Massmart, the owner of Game, Makro and Builders, is considering closing around 20 Game stores in Gauteng, the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, potentially redeveloping them into new Walmart stores.
Massmart confirmed to MyBroadband that this move will be subject to engagement with the potentially affected Game employees
Despite this, the group stressed that the affected stores represent only a small portion of its overall footprint.
“The potentially affected stores represent a small part of our total Game store portfolio, and we continue to invest in the future growth of Game, including through the rollout of our pantry merchandise proposition, which is enjoying high demand from Game customers,” they said.
“However, there are no plans in place to close the Game business,” Massmart added.
Game first launched in South Africa in 1970, when the first store opened in Durban. Its founders believed shopping had become tedious and uninspiring and wanted to create a more exciting retail experience, conceptualising shopping as a “game”.
The brand’s bold pink identity has become iconic nationwide. Today, Game operates around 150 stores in 12 African countries, including 122 in South Africa.
However, the retailer has faced mounting pressure over the past decade amid intense competition and a weak economic environment.
Walmart, which first acquired a 51% stake in Massmart in 2011, moved to take full control in late 2022.
It bought out the remaining 47% for approximately R6.4 billion, delisting Massmart from the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) in a bid to accelerate its turnaround strategy.
The buyout came after Massmart’s value had declined by roughly 80% since 2010, reflecting the significant challenges facing the group.
Walmart’s plans in South Africa became more visible in November 2025, when it launched its first two branded stores at Clearwater Mall in Roodepoort and Fourways Mall in Johannesburg.
Both outlets replaced former Game stores, suggesting how existing sites could be repurposed as part of the retailer’s broader rollout.
Quality and price are the strategy
The next confirmed location is Boksburg on the East Rand, where Walmart is set to open a store in the first quarter of 2026.
The former Game store at East Point Shopping Centre, next to East Rand Mall, has stood closed since July 2025.
While some staff previously indicated on social media that the site would be converted into a Makro, that plan has not materialised, paving the way for Walmart branding instead.
Massmart has indicated that more details about its long-term strategy in South Africa will be shared in the second quarter of 2026.
Kath McLay, Walmart International President and CEO, has emphasised that the South African stores will offer a broad product range, including fresh groceries, household essentials, apparel and technology. The retailer also plans to source extensively from local suppliers.
“By partnering with South African suppliers and entrepreneurs, Walmart brings its signature Every Day Low Prices and global standards to the market,” McLay said.
The new stores are focused heavily on affordability, promising competitively priced groceries alongside family, home and entertainment products.
“Every rand matters when it comes to price. This balance of quality and everyday low prices enables us to build customer trust,” said Massmart CEO Miles Van Rensburg.
Founded in 1962 by brothers Sam Walton and James “Bud” Walton in Rogers, Arkansas, Walmart has grown from a small discount store into a global retail powerhouse.
It now operates 10,750 stores and clubs in 19 countries, alongside eCommerce platforms, and employs approximately 2.1 million people worldwide.
Walmart store in South Africa
