Early Black Friday 2025 deals from Woolworths, Amazon, Makro and more
The countdown to Black Friday 2025 has officially started, with 30 days to go until the sales day kicks off on 28 November 2025.
As has become the tradition in South Africa, retailers start their sales much earlier and often have multiple deals running in the month leading up to a blowout on Black Friday itself.
Massmart stores, Makro and Game, have already launched early deals, with promotions launching on 24 October 2025 and running throughout November.
Builders, also part of the Massmart group, has also started running its deals—the first in the DIY segment to do so.
However, other major retailers, including a host of brands on The Foschini Group’s Bash marketplace, are also getting the jump on sales.
According to TFG, its early Black Friday specials on Bash will be available both online and in stores. However, some offers may be exclusive to Bash or in-stores.
In either case, it said to expect savings of up to 70% off on selected items.
Woolworths has also already launched its Black Friday deals, promising more to come throughout November.
The group is also pushing its new MyDifference rewards programme, offering up to 50% off selected products online and in-store for MyDifference members.
Woolworths November Deals will be available throughout the month, with new deals announced each week.
Online retailer Amazon.co.za has also announced the start date of its early deals, launching on 31 October and running throughout November.
The group promises up to 40% off on select items, as well as further discount vouchers for shoppers using its app.
Amazon of course joins the online retailer leader Takealot, which will again be running its Blue Dot Sale—start date to be announced.
Again showing the spread and variety of Black Friday sales in South Africa, furniture stores are also getting involved.
Coricraft has already launched its Black Friday sales, and home retailer Hirch’s has also announced the start date of its “Black November” sale, commencing 31 October.
Brands that have announced or launched countdowns to Black Friday include:
Black Friday in South Africa
While originating in the United States, Black Friday was imported to South Africa in 2012.
Checkers often lays claim to starting Black Friday in South Africa in 2014, but local retailers were already carrying the name for sales days aligning with the US tradition back in 2012.
Regardless, Black Friday in South Africa has evolved on its own path, with little relation to the US tradition.
In the United States, the day is as a massive Thanksgiving clearance sale on the final weekend of November, featuring massive discounts as retailers clear stock ahead of the December festive season.
The US sales often include big-ticket items like appliances, TVs and gadgets, typically going for half price or more.
The sales are also centred around one weekend, sometimes leading to large crowds pushing and shoving for limited stock.
In South Africa, Black Friday has become a month-long “Black November” sales period for major retailers, featuring much smaller discounts.
While discerning local shoppers are also on the hunt for big discounts and big-ticket items—with air-fryers a consistent top purchase—many South Africans use the sale to stock up on essentials.
This include bulk-buying non-perishable food items for the December holidays, or just getting the best deal on groceries or toys for Christmas.
The evolution of Black Friday in South Africa has been born out of necessity, however, with low salary growth and household finances under immense pressure over the past five or six years.
This resulted in a more muted response to Black Friday, with sales slumping in 2020, but gradually increasing to record levels in 2024.
In 2025, finances are in a much better position, with salary earners experiencing real salary growth for the first time in a long time.
With major retailers like Wal-Mart also launching in South Africa for the first time and looking to make a splash in a highly competitive retail space, the year could yield the biggest Black Friday sales period yet.
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