Takealot is Getting Prepared for Amazon’s Entry in South Africa; Frederik Zietsman Takes the Helm as CEO

Takealot, the prominent e-commerce conglomerate based in South Africa, disclosed a substantial revenue of $808 million in the fiscal year 2023. In a recent announcement, Frederik Zietsman has been unveiled as the incoming CEO, set to assume office on February 1, 2024. Noteworthy is Takealot’s ownership of the digital platforms takealot.com, Superbalist, and Mr D.

Zietsman steps into the role, succeeding Mamongae Mahlare, who has served as CEO since October 2021. Mahlare is transitioning to the position of executive chair within the Takealot group. Zietsman had previously held the position of CEO at Takealot.com since 2021.

The landscape of South African e-commerce is poised for a seismic shift with Amazon’s impending entry in 2024, as announced in October 2023. It is apparent that Takealot is positioning itself strategically to fend off competition from the global e-commerce titan. Former CEO Mahlare has consistently expressed anticipation for Amazon’s entry.

In July, the country’s competition regulator of South Africa released a report uncovering competitive issues within leading online platforms. Takealot, in particular, was highlighted for a conflict of interest on its platform, where its retail division competes with marketplace sellers, leading to practices disadvantaging sellers. As a corrective measure, Takealot was mandated to separate its retail division from marketplace operations, prohibiting retail services from accessing seller data and unilaterally restricting sellers from competing for specific brands.

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