South Africa has ended the R500 VAT exemption on imported goods, meaning all online purchases from abroad now face 15% VAT and 20% customs duty. This change aims to protect local jobs and businesses hurt by cheap imports from big foreign sellers like Shein and Temu, who used to avoid taxes by sending small, lowvalue parcels. While shoppers might pay more now, the new rules try to make shopping fair and help South Africa’s clothing and manufacturing industries survive and grow. It’s a big shift that will shape how people buy online and how local businesses compete in the future.
