International retailer opening its first store in another province in South Africa

·12 Aug 2026

International value retailer MR.DIY is expanding into Mpumalanga, with its first store in the province set to open at Highveld Mall on 19 August 2026.

The opening forms part of the Malaysian retailer’s wider expansion strategy, which will see it increase its presence across the country.

MR.DIY expects to have 14 stores operating in South Africa by the end of 2026, following its entry into the market with its first outlets earlier this year.

“Opening in Mpumalanga is an exciting milestone in MR.DIY’s expansion across South Africa,” said Khumo Mabe, procurement specialist at MR.DIY.

“It means that we can bring our wide range of quality products at always low prices to a new community, giving people across the province access to our high-quality range of affordable home, hardware and lifestyle essentials.”

The Highveld Mall store will be followed by another provincial expansion, with MR.DIY opening another store at Saxony Westwood in KwaZulu-Natal on 14 August. A grand opening event for the new stores is scheduled for 29 and 30 August.

The retailer’s South African expansion is also being accompanied by efforts to increase the proportion of products it sources locally.

MR.DIY currently sources 12% of its South African range from local suppliers and has set a target of 20%.

It works with 46 South African suppliers across 11 departments, and the company said it wants to continue increasing the number of local businesses supplying its stores.

“We want local suppliers in every category across MR.DIY. From a local sourcing perspective, there is no limitation, and our aim is to just keep finding local suppliers who can add to our already extensive catalogue,” Mabe said.

Local products are sold alongside imported goods, many of which are developed specifically for MR.DIY and carry the retailer’s own brand. The company said the two sourcing models serve different purposes.

“It is important to note that local and imported sourcing are not in competition with each other,” said Lara-lee De Jager, imports manager at MR.DIY.

“Local sourcing allows us to support South African businesses and communities, while the main drive behind our imports is to bring MR.DIY-branded products to the South African consumer.”

More than 150 South Africans are employed

The retailer added that quality and compliance checks are carried out before imported products enter the local market.

“We work from supplier level straight through to market level. Trade compliance is a very important part of what we do, from complying with international regulations to meeting the requirements of South African governing bodies,” De Jager said.

MR.DIY’s expansion into South Africa represents its first move into Africa. The company began in Malaysia in 2005 and has since grown to almost 5,000 stores across Asia and Europe, including markets such as Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, India, Türkiye, Spain and Poland.

Its stores operate from shopping malls rather than large warehouse-style locations and stock between 17,000 and 18,000 products.

These products span categories such as hardware, household goods, décor, electrical accessories, stationery, toys, and everyday home essentials.

The company has also established local offices and warehouse operations in South Africa, with more than 150 South Africans employed.

MR.DIY has indicated that it intends to expand cautiously rather than pursue store growth for its own sake.

“We want to walk before we run. Our focus is on building a strong foundation and then scaling with intent. We have a clear pipeline of stores and a long-term vision for South Africa,” the company said.

“By 2027 and beyond, our goal is to have a meaningful national footprint that allows us to reach far more communities.”