Business
Takealot Expands in South Africa: From Online Shopping to Education and Home Loans
Takealot has long been South Africa’s online shopping powerhouse, but 2025 is showing a very different side to the group. No longer content with being just a retail giant, Takealot is stepping into new spaces that touch on education, township development, logistics, finance, and business services.
Partnering with government on education
Earlier this year, Takealot signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Higher Education and Training. The aim is to bridge the gap between what young people learn and the skills the economy needs. By helping develop curricula in e-commerce, logistics, and tech-driven business, the group is preparing graduates for future jobs.
The bursary programme is also being scaled up, with the government matching Takealot’s funding to open more opportunities in high-demand areas like ICT. On a practical level, Takealot’s logistics network will now even help deliver textbooks to colleges.
Expanding the township economy
Takealot’s Township Economy Initiative, which started in Mpumalanga and Gauteng, is now being rolled out nationally. The project supports township entrepreneurs by giving them access to digital platforms, training, and logistics support. By involving SETAs, the programme is also creating a link between small businesses and broader industry opportunities.
New ventures beyond retail
Takealot is also moving into bold new ventures on the commercial side.
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Takealot Fulfilment Solutions (TFS): Launched in July 2025, this unit brings freight, courier, supply chain, and international trade services under one banner, giving South African businesses access to global import and export support.
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Takealot Home Loan Hub: Soft-launched in August with MortgageMarket, the hub lets users compare home loan offers from multiple banks through one application, with Experian-powered soft credit checks that do not affect credit scores.
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Takealot for Business: Relaunched in September, this procurement service simplifies sourcing for companies, offering a single supplier for everything from IT equipment to catering supplies.
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TakealotMORE: A new monthly subscription service that gives customers unlimited TakealotNOW deliveries and exclusive coupons.
Why it matters for South Africa
E-commerce in South Africa has matured rapidly in the past five years, but Takealot’s latest steps show it is playing a much bigger game. By linking with government, supporting township economies, and moving into finance and trade, Takealot is embedding itself into everyday South African life in new ways.
What started as a convenient shopping app is fast becoming a national player in skills development, economic growth, and even household finance. The question is no longer just what you can buy on Takealot, but how Takealot might shape the future of work, business, and community development in South Africa.
Also read: Joburg’s R33 billion plan to stop wasting a third of its water
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Source: Business Tech
Featured Image: Bizcommunity
