New E-Commerce Platforms Receive a Big Thumbs Up From Organised Labour

The newly launched e-commerce platform for South African made goods, Shop Proudly SA, has received a massive shot in the arm from the biggest labour body, COSATU, after the labour federation pledged to mobilise its nearly two million strong members from its affiliate unions to throw their weight behind the platform.

COSATU President Zingiswa Losi made this commitment at the official launch of the e-commerce platform that is developed by the national buy local campaign, Proudly SA in partnership with the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic).

The online portal comprises of Shop Proudly SA, an online retailer and Market Access Platform (MAP), a centralised procurement hub that enables procurement officials to identify verified local suppliers.

“We will encourage our members to shop on Shop Proudly SA, to promote it in their communities, and to engage our employers to procure from suppliers listed on Market Access Platform (MAP). We will campaign across our networks to say proudly and clearly: Buying local is not a slogan – it is a concrete contribution each of us can make every day to build the country around us,” said Losi.

Losi noted that South African’s shopping decisions are not simply innocuous they have far-reaching implications.

Every time a worker chooses to buy South African-made goods, they are doing more than shopping. They are casting a vote—for jobs, for dignity, for fair wages, for local innovation, and for a more resilient economy.

“We must understand the power of our own choices. In the hands of an ordinary consumer lies the ability to reshape the world around them. Every rand spent locally stays locally—it builds local factories, supports local farms, keeps our towns alive, and protects our sovereignty,” Losi added.

She noted that the launch of Shop Proudly SA and MAP represents a call to action and urged consumers to take ownership of the platform to drive the localisation agenda.

“Let us be wise about what we buy and buy local. If you are a consumer and you see that your favourite homegrown products are not on the platform quickly, please tell those businesses to list on the platform. If you are a worker making goods and services locally, ask your employer to list on the platform.

The future we must build is one where we use technology to uplift rather than displace, where local goods are celebrated, and where the economy becomes a space where each of us – workers, businesses, and government – shape and share prosperity. We welcome Shop Proudly SA and the MAP as two tools on this road. The call to action of Amandla ngawethu, could never be more appropriate than this launch,” said Losi.

Losi’s remarks were echoed by Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic), Parks Tau, who said that localisation is not just a policy choice but a national imperative for job creation, industrial development, and economic sovereignty.

Citing the bullish growth of the e-commerce industry in South Africa which is projected to reach R225 billion by 2025 fuelled by increased internet connectivity and the rapid expansion of digital payment infrastructure, Tau said that it is critical that local producers benefit from this growth and not get left behind.

“By supporting local businesses to enter digital marketplaces, we’re not just growing the economy, we’re digitally enabling industrialisation…This is not just about compliance. It is about building an inclusive industrial base that reflects the full potential of South Africa’s human capital. Through platforms like the national online store and MAP, we are removing friction, creating access, and bridging the gap between policy intent and market reality,” the Minister said.

The development of Shop Proudly SA and MAP are a direct result of the outcomes of the Expo 2020 Dubai where it was identified that South Africa needed a centralised digital marketplace to showcase and connect buyers with locally made goods.

The dtic responded by commissioning the development of a national online store, led by Proudly SA, designed to serve as a trusted one-stop-shop for consumers and businesses to access South African products.

Source: Briefly News