What Is Lokoli?
Lokoli is a South African online marketplace connecting shoppers with local businesses, creators and entrepreneurs. Sellers list and sell their products directly on lokoli.co.za; shoppers browse, buy and pay securely, knowing their money is protected until their order arrives.
Lokoli was built in South Africa, for South Africans — to make it as easy to discover and buy from a small local business as it is to buy from a big international retailer.
Lokoli is not a big-box retailer and does not hold its own stock. It's a multi-vendor marketplace: every product on Lokoli is listed, priced and fulfilled by an independent South African seller. Lokoli's role is to bring buyers and sellers together and to hold payment safely in escrow, through TradeSafe, until the order is confirmed.
Anyone who wants to support South African-owned businesses, makers and small brands instead of large international retailers — with the convenience of one place to discover them.
Small business owners, independent creators, crafters and entrepreneurs across South Africa who want an online shop without building and maintaining their own e-commerce website.
Lokoli lists products across 12 categories — from handmade goods and small-batch products to digital downloads and local services:
Shoppers browse the marketplace, save items to a wishlist or add straight to cart, and check out securely. Payment is held in escrow by TradeSafe, a regulated South African payment-protection provider, and only released to the seller once the order is confirmed.
Any South African business, maker or entrepreneur can claim a free Lokoli shop and start listing products. Selling is free until you make a sale — then it's a flat 10% commission, so you keep 90%, with no listing fees and no monthly subscription. The first 100 sellers to join become Founding Shops, with permanent placement and a founding badge on the marketplace.
Whether you're here to shop or to sell, there's a place for you on Lokoli.