Clicks Launches New Retailer To Rival Major SA Grocery Stores, Sparking Mixed Feelings Online
- Clicks Group opened its first KwaMakhi discount store in Tembisa on 27 August 2026, targeting South Africa’s township economy
- The new retail format is smaller than standard Clicks stores and focuses on affordable everyday essentials for high-volume township shoppers
- Marketing specialist Hamzeh Majiet shared a first look inside the store on TikTok, sparking a major debate about Black economic ownership
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Clicks Group has entered South Africa’s mass-market retail space with a brand new store concept called KwaMakhi, opening its first outlet in Tembisa on 27 August 2026 and positioning itself to compete directly with Shoprite and Boxer.
Marketing and retail launch specialist Hamzeh Majiet shared a first look inside the store on TikTok, sparking an immediate debate about who stands to benefit from the township retail boom.
KwaMakhi targets SA’s R900 billion township economy
The name KwaMakhi loosely translates to “at my neighbour’s” across several local languages, a deliberate nod to the concept of a walkable neighbourhood shop where residents can grab daily essentials without spending on transport to a mall.
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According to BusinessTech, Clicks CEO Bertina Engelbrecht said the group sees around 2,000 potential locations its traditional format cannot currently reach. The township economy is estimated at roughly R900 billion annually, making it one of the most powerful FMCG markets in the country.
KwaMakhi stores are considerably smaller than standard Clicks outlets, measuring between 280 and 350 square metres compared to the 550 to 1,500 square metres of a typical Clicks shop. There are no pharmacies or clinics, just high-frequency everyday products like personal care items, household essentials, and basic consumables.
Clicks plans 10 stores by year-end
The group has reportedly set aside R30 million for an initial ten-store discovery phase running through to February. Private label products will make up roughly 30% of the range at launch, with plans to grow that to 40%. Refill stations for personal care products such as creams are expected to roll out around October 2026.
Engelbrecht acknowledged that lower-income consumers often end up paying more for the same goods, describing it as a global problem she wants KwaMakhi to address through everyday low pricing and smaller pack sizes.
Watch Hamzeh Majiet break down details of the store on TikTok:
Mzansi reacts to KwaMakhi’s arrival
South Africans in the comments were divided between excitement and scepticism, with many raising pointed questions about ownership and economic inclusion:
@Otsar אוצר wrote:
“See the root cause of March n March. It’s the scramble for the informal township economy. 🎯💯”
@Mr MAck noted:
“The only people that don’t realise the buying power Black people have are black.”
@Sandile Molefe added:
“It’s all making sense now.”
@Twitter said:
“Money is in the hands of Black people.”
@Sparx Wa Senyora questioned:
“So as Blacks we’ll never fully take part in this economy. 32 years of freedom, what major retail or corporation is Black-owned? No ways.”
More stories involving Clicks
- Clicks staff organised a dignified head office procession to honour rugby stars Jayden Adams and Luqobo Makwedini.
- A TikToker alerted South African beauty fans that Clicks Beauty Playground tickets go on sale on 28 August 2026.
- A Cape Town woman sent Mzansi into a collective spiral after posting an Instagram video on 2 June 2026 about the Clicks unicorn logo.
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Source: Briefly News
