Gaming as strategy: how a fast-growing sector could leapfrog South Africa forward

SOUTH Africa is standing at a defining moment. For generations, our growth has been tied to mining, manufacturing, and heavy industry — vital sectors, yes, but costly, resource-heavy, and often slow to create the kinds of broad, future-facing jobs our young population needs. Meanwhile, a new global engine is roaring ahead: gaming.

- Bandile Phuthuma is an advocate for creative-technology policy and economic transformation. He writes on innovation, education and the digital economy. The views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of Independent Media or IOL.

Once dismissed as teenage pastime, gaming today is much more. It is a billion-dollar industry, a platform for technology innovation, a competitive sport, a tourism drawcard, and even a classroom tool.

With the right choices in policy, education and investment, South Africa can do more than join this global wave — it can ride it to rebrand itself as Africa’s creative-technology hub, unlocking jobs, exports and skills development along the way.

A booming market we cannot ignore

The numbers alone tell a powerful story. In 2024, the South African gaming market was worth just over $1 billion — and it is on track to more than double within a decade.

Across Africa, mobile-first adoption, fintech innovation and growing infrastructure are fuelling double-digit growth. Global, games remain one of the strongest pillars of the trillion-dollar entertainment sector, strengthened by digital platforms and artificial intelligence. The video game industry is bigger than film, music, the NFL and the top 5 European Soccer Leagues combined, an industry that cannot be ignored. In South Africa we have more than 26 million people playing games, 3.38 billion people play games that is half of the world population play video games.

Africa & Middle East have the second highest population of Gamers globally and the fastest growing market globally!

Africa & Middle East generate lowest revenues globally but still fastest growing.

Opportunity: Localisation of gaming content could Significantly influence this positively if we focus on catering for local market over long term (10 - 15 years). If we start now we will be the leader in Africa! Gaming Revenue in South Africa R5 billion (2022).

Revenue from the South African market is going offshore. In other words: gaming is not a sideshow. It is one of the defining industries of the 21st century.

Why gaming is a strategic lever