Affiliate Programmes for South African Bloggers (What’s Still Worth Joining)

Affiliate marketing advice online is written for American bloggers with American bank accounts, and the first question most South African bloggers ask is whether any of it applies to them.

Some of it does, some of it doesn’t, and some of the lists floating around are out of date. This guide covers the affiliate programmes for South African bloggers worth checking, how payments work on each network and how to get your first link live, using each network’s own terms.

Related: How to Make Money Blogging (Without Burning Out): 6 Income Streams

Can South African Bloggers Do Affiliate Marketing?

Yes. Affiliate programmes for South African bloggers include local South African networks and international networks.

The difference is mostly practical: which brands you can promote, which currency you’re paid in and how you get paid. Local networks work with South African brands, so your readers can buy from them easily. International networks give you access to global brands and software, which suits bloggers writing about tools, travel or online business.

AdMarula

A South African performance marketing network with a free publisher sign-up.

AdMarula says publishers earn commission by promoting its advertisers’ offers on a website, blog or forum, and that joining is free. Its publisher agreement sets out how payment works: AdMarula invoices on your behalf monthly for traffic up to two months earlier, pays monthly in arrears and only pays out once you’re owed at least R500 (the figure can change). Payments go directly to your bank account.

Commission rates and conditions are set per programme, and AdMarula says they’re published on its site and change from time to time. Check the current terms for each programme before you write content around it.

Affiliate.co.za

Another South African network aimed at website owners.

Affiliate.co.za describes itself as a network where webmasters can promote local South African brands directly. Sign up, see which merchants are open and check the payment terms in your account. Its public site hasn’t been updated for a while, so confirm the network is accepting new affiliates before you build on it, and ask support if you’re unsure.

Awin

A large international network with a clear payment policy.

Awin works with brands across retail, travel, finance and more. Its help centre says every publisher sets a minimum payment threshold, with a minimum of $20 (or the equivalent) for most currencies, and that payments are processed twice a month once your balance reaches the threshold. See Awin’s payment thresholds page. Payment methods depend on your country and currency, and Awin shows the ones available to you in your account, so check there before you apply.

A note on older guides: ShareASale, which many South African blogging lists still recommend, closed as a standalone platform on 6 October 2025, and its affiliates were moved onto Awin. If a list still tells you to sign up to ShareASale, it’s out of date.

Impact

A global platform behind many software and creator-tool programmes.

Impact is a partnership platform used by many brands. Its help centre on getting paid says partners can be paid by bank transfer or PayPal, that a balance of $10 (or the equivalent) is eligible for withdrawal and that it has specific bank detail formats for South African accounts. PayPal withdrawals carry a fee, so read the current terms. Which brands are available changes, so search inside the platform for tools you actually use.

Pick the programme for the product you already recommend, not the one with the biggest commission.

What About Takealot, Zando and Other Retailers?

For retailers, check each affiliate programme for South African bloggers on its own page for current terms.

Lists of South African affiliate programmes often name specific retailers, with commission rates and cookie windows. Those details change and I couldn’t confirm them from official pages, so I haven’t repeated them here. If you have a retailer in mind, search its site for an “affiliate” or “partner” page, or check whether it runs its programme through one of the networks above. Be wary of any list that states a retailer’s commission rate without linking to the retailer.

How to Join Affiliate Programmes for South African Bloggers, Step by Step

1. Choose one niche and a few products you already use. The best affiliate links are for things you’d recommend anyway.
2. Pick one network. Start with AdMarula for South African brands, or Awin or Impact for global ones.
3. Apply with a live blog. Networks usually review your site, so have real posts published first.
4. Write content that answers a question. A tutorial, a comparison or a resources page works better than a link dropped into an unrelated post.
5. Disclose clearly. Put the disclosure close to the link, not at the bottom of the post.
6. Check results and payment terms. Look at your dashboard regularly and note which posts get clicks.

On disclosure: South Africa’s Advertising Regulatory Board (ARB) says influencers and publishers should disclose their involvement with a brand, including free goods or services given for coverage, in its advertising codes. For readers elsewhere, the FTC’s disclosure guidance says to disclose any financial relationship clearly and close to the recommendation. Codes change, so read the current version.

Related: How to Make Money Blogging with Affiliate Marketing (Even with Zero Traffic)

Haven’t started your blog yet? Grab my free How to Start a Blog Checklist before you place your first affiliate link.

Mistakes to Avoid With Affiliate Programmes for South African Bloggers

• Copying an old programme list: networks close and terms change.
• Promoting products you don’t use: readers notice.
• Skipping disclosure: be clear and put it near the link.
• Joining five networks at once: start with one and learn how it pays.
• Ignoring payment terms: check thresholds, methods and fees first.

Key Takeaways

• Affiliate programmes for South African bloggers include local networks such as AdMarula and Affiliate.co.za, plus international ones such as Awin and Impact.
• Check payment thresholds, methods and current terms for each programme before you apply.
• ShareASale has closed, so ignore lists that still recommend it.
• Start with one network and a few products you genuinely use, and disclose clearly.

Pick one programme, one product you really use and one helpful post, and let that be your first link. 🌶️

Sources: AdMarula publisher agreement, Awin, Impact and the ARB.