Meta’s platforms already contribute R16.5 billion annually to South Africa’s economy, and artificial intelligence could add a further R528 billion to GDP over the next decade, according to a new report by research firm Public First commissioned by Meta.
The report, titled Meta’s Impact in South Africa, found that 910,000 small and medium enterprises are using apps including WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram as core business infrastructure — bridging the divide between large corporations, a vibrant SME sector and the informal economy. Nine in 10 online businesses on Meta’s platforms say the tools have opened new markets for them, while 81% of online adults say the platforms have helped them feel part of their community.
From spaza shops in Soweto to design studios in Cape Town, informal traders are using WhatsApp Business to manage orders, coordinate with suppliers and reach customers beyond their immediate streets — a pattern the report says allows informal businesses to operate with the efficiency of formal ones.
Balkissa Ide Siddo, director of public policy for sub-Saharan Africa at Meta, said the platforms are doing more than enabling commerce. “What stands out about South Africa is how our platforms are bridging the gap between the formal and informal economy. When a township trader can use WhatsApp Business to manage orders with the same efficiency as a retailer in Sandton, that is real economic inclusion in action,” she said.