Johannesburg – South Africans shopping on the popular Chinese online store Shein will soon see customs duties added to their total at checkout, ending months of uncertainty over additional charges.
Currently, shoppers only learn how much they owe in customs after their packages arrive, sometimes causing delays or even returns to China when fees are unpaid. Shein has confirmed that the new feature will calculate and display estimated customs fees directly on the app’s checkout page, giving customers clarity before payment. The change responds to frequent customer requests for upfront transparency.
Shein’s affordability has made it a favourite among South African shoppers, but the rise of these online platforms has affected the local clothing industry. According to the Localisation Support Fund, Shein and Temu generated roughly R7.3 billion in sales between 2020 and 2024. This growth coincided with an estimated R960 million loss in local manufacturing revenue, 2 818 potential manufacturing jobs not created, and 5 282 unmaterialised retail positions. Retail, Clothing, Textile, Footwear and Leather sector sales dropped from R117 billion in 2011 to R105 billion in 2024.
Online shopping is still expected to grow, with projections suggesting it will account for 15.9% of retail sales by 2030.
Meanwhile, the South African Revenue Service is enforcing stricter rules on imports from Chinese stores. Since 1 September 2024, Sars introduced VAT on imported goods, in addition to the 20% flat-rate customs. Previously, Shein and Temu used the de minimis rule to allow parcels under R500 to bypass full VAT, paying only the 20% duty. Local retailers, by contrast, must pay 45% customs duty plus 15% VAT. Under the new regulations, all clothing imports from these online stores will now attract the standard 45% customs duty, regardless of parcel value.
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