South Africa is often credited as the "Rainbow Nation." To a great extent, the country is flourishing with a very diverse economic scene that is highly favorable for entrepreneurial activities, such as multi-level marketing (MLM). The developing middle class, increased internet access and abundant use of social media create a perfect setting for MLM companies.
The WFDSA report highlights that, South Africa is one of the leading direct selling market in Africa generating a revenue of $387 million in 2024. However, it has an year-over-year sales decline of 12.2% and CAGR of -14.2% during a three-year period. It's also among the growing markets having a growth rate of 0.097%. There are currently 634,293distributors in the South African direct selling market, of which 81% are women. The cosmetics and personal care sector in the country has recorded 45% of retail sales, followed by wellness (33%) and household goods and services (13%).
Direct selling in South Africa has grown significantly and greatly contributes to the global retail market. This growth is controlled and facilitated through the right legal framework, which enforces equity while creating opportunities for individuals to grow their businesses.
Top multi-level marketing companies in South Africa
Find out which are the top MLM companies changing the direct selling face of South Africa in 2026.
©
Epixel MLM Software
Source - Direct Selling Association of South Africa
Data updated in September 2025
*The above list is subject to market changes and modifications.
Review of a comprehensive list of the top 100 MLM companies that are standing out around the world.
Top Product Segments of Leading MLM companies in South Africa
| # | Company | Main Product Segments | Notable Products |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amway South Africa |
|
|
| 2 | Herbalife |
|
|
| 3 | Forever Living Products |
|
|
| 4 | Tiens |
|
|
| 5 | New Image Group |
|
|
| 6 | Mannatech |
|
|
| 7 | NeoLife |
|
|
| 8 | Edmark International |
|
|
| 9 | Inuka Fragrances |
|
|
| 10 | Miglio Designer Jewellery |
|
|
Company Age and Leadership: MLM companies in South Africa
| # | Company | Year Founded | Age in 2025 (years) | CEO | Founder(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amway South Africa | 1959 | 66 | Michael Nelson | Jay Van Andel & Richard DeVos |
| 2 | Herbalife | 1980 | 45 | Stephan Gratziani | Mark R. Hughes |
| 3 | Forever Living Products | 1978 | 47 | Gregg Maughan | Rex Maughan |
| 4 | Tiens | 1995 | 30 | Li Jinyuan | Li Jinyuan |
| 5 | New Image Group | 1984 | 41 | Rod Taylor | Graeme Clegg |
| 6 | Mannatech | 1993 | 32 | Landen Fredrick | Samuel Caster |
| 7 | NeoLife | 1958 | 67 | Kendra Brassfield | Jerry Brassfield |
| 8 | Edmark International | 1984 | 41 | Philip Lim | Mr. Sam Low Ban Chai |
| 9 | Inuka Fragrances | 2010 | 15 | Alma Gericke | Alma Gericke |
| 10 | Miglio Designer Jewellery | 1990 | 35 | Jenny Miller | Jenny Miller |
Recent news & updates of MLM companies in South Africa
Amway Cares Week ends with 1,000+ employees serving together
Amway has concluded its fourth annual Amway Cares Week of Service with the collective volunteering of over 1,000 employees for more than 6,000 hours of service. This includes housing, food support, and creating community parks.
Amway turns to new shift with the appointment of Ryan Talbott as CTO
Amway, the leading US-based multi-level marketing company, has appointed Ryan Talbott as its new Chief Technology Officer. Amway is expecting to improve its growth and innovations under his guidance.
Herbalife CEO and CFO to participate in Barclays Global Consumer Staples Conference
Herbalife announced that Stephan Gratziani, Chief Executive Officer, and John DeSimone, Chief Financial Officer, will participate in a fireside chat at the Barclays Global Consumer Staples Conference.
Herbalife sees results with its new wellness and digital platform
Herbalife announced the positive outcomes of its beta launch of the Pro2col health and wellness digital platform. The company states that adapting to new technologies will accelerate its growth with a strong customer base.
Aidan O’Hare takes charge as the new president of Forever Living Products International
Forever Living Products International has appointed Aidan O’Hare as the new president of the company. Gregg Maughan, who has served in this role since 2008, will continue as the company’s Chief Executive Officer.
South Africa's next big things in direct selling
Here are some of the best MLM businesses that are currently transforming direct sales in South Africa. These network marketing companies have very impactful initiatives and are characterized by pursuing excellence, which, in return, has brought about very phenomenal contributions to the industry.
Amway South Africa
Amway
Amway South Africa is part of the global Amway network, known for its globally accepted wide range of products such as health supplements, beauty items and even household essentials. Founded in 1959 in the United States, Amway operates on a business concept that allows individuals to work as independent distributors. The network marketing company focuses highly on individual development and entrepreneurship, providing the distributors with all the details on training and processes for success.
What appeals to South African consumers for Amway's commitment to quality and sustainability is the health and wellness products.
Country: USA
Website: www.amway.com
Top Earners: 11
Products & Services: Business/Commercial, Health/Fitness/Wellness, Home Technology, Homecare, Nutritional Supplements, Personal Care
Founder: Jay Van Andel & Richard DeVos
CEO: Michael Nelson
Year Founded: 1959
Headquarters: Ada, Michigan, USA
Achievements:
- Ranked as the #1 company in the 2025 DSN Global 100
- Received the Asia Pacific (APAC) Competitive Strategy Leadership Award in 2022
- Nutrilite and eSpring by Amway were recognized as the Most Trusted Brands of 2022
Herbalife
Herbalife
Herbalife is one among the significant players in South Africa's MLM market, offering a range of nutritional products related to weight management and wellness. Herbalife originated in the United States in 1980 with encouragement to sellers to sell the products in addition to having sales team recruits. Corporate culture and further employee engagement are mainstream aspects that are followed by Herbalife as it maintains a strong brand presence in South Africa.
Despite occasional questioning surrounding health claims, the company remains successful due to its community-centric approach and solid reputation. Go beyond the products and discover the people who built some of Herbalife's largest top earners network in the direct selling industry.
Country: USA
Website: www.herbalife.com
Top Earners: 10
Products & Services: Personal Care & Wellness,Food & Beverage, Cosmetics
Founder: Mark R. Hughes
CEO: Stephan Gratziani
Year Founded: 1980
Headquarters: Los Angeles, California, USA
Achievements:
- Ranked #2 on the DSN Global 100 list for 2025
- Earned a Guinness World Records™ title for the 2024 Global Workout Event
- Honored with the Excellence in Business Award from the Direct Selling Association
Forever Living Products
Forever Living Products
Forever Living Products is an MLM company remarkable for the fact that it specializes in aloe vera-based products and products used for health and beauty purposes. It started in 1978 in the USA and built a loyal clientele in South Africa with the approach of emphasizing natural wellness. Its portfolios range from dietary supplements through to skincare solutions and personal care products. Forever Living, with its stance on sustainability and ethical sourcing, is consistent with South African values that help to make customers associate with it as well.
Country: USA
Website: www.foreverliving.com
Top Earners: 16
Products & Services: Cosmetics, personal care
Founder: Rex Maughan
CEO: Gregg Maughan
Year Founded: 1978
Headquarters: Scottsdale, Arizona, United States
Achievements:
- Awarded the 2023 Global Green Beauty Awards
- Secured the 2023 Nourish Awards
- Recognized as the winner of the SITE Crystal Award in 2022
Tiens
Tiens
Tiens is an indigenous network marketing company that harmonizes the traditional Chinese approaches with innovative health care products. Formed in 1995, Tiens remains thriving in South Africa through some of its nutrition supplements and personal care products. The real focus the company puts in really attracts the buyers who take care of their health. Tiens remains to be promoting personal development and financial freedom by forming distributor circles.
Country: China
Website: www.tiens.com/
Top Earners: NA
Products & Services: Health food, Beauty and personal care products, Household items
Founder: Li Jinyuan
CEO: Li Jinyuan
Year Founded: 1995
Headquarters: Tianjin, China
Achievements:
- Honored with the "Influential Person of the Year 2024" Award
New Image Group
New Image Group
New Image Group, from New Zealand, specializes in natural supplement health. The company has started operations with distribution operations here in South Africa since 1984. Its emphasis within its product offerings is on "the need to promote overall well-being." Thus, New Image in South Africa would play on quality and innovation for health-conscious patrons, by distributing with substantial training for an entrepreneurial approach.
Country: New Zealand
Website: https://newimage.world/
Top Earners: NA
Products & Services: Skincare, Nutrition supplements, Weight management
Founder: Graeme Clegg
CEO: Graeme Clegg
Year Founded: 1984
Headquarters: Mangere Bridge, Auckland
Achievements:
- Receipient of Corporate Excellence in Healthcare and Wellness Award
NeoLife
NeoLife
NeoLife, founded in the USA in 1958, specializes in whole food-based nutritional supplements aimed at promoting optimal health. The NeoLife mission revolves around scientifically-backed products designed to encourage healthy lifestyles. In South Africa, NeoLife has established a loyal network of distributors who focus on educating consumers about nutrition and wellness, building trust through informed selling practices.
Country: USA
Website: www.neolife.com/
Top Earners: NA
Products & Services: Haircare/Hair Accessories, Health/Fitness/Wellness, Homecare, Nutritional Supplements
Founder: Jerry Brassfield
CEO: Kendra Brassfield
Year Founded: 1958
Headquarters: Santa Clara, California, USA
Achievements: NA
Mannatech
Mannatech
Mannatech is for sure one of the more well-known glyconutritional supplement companies, which supports general well-being in humans. Established back in 1993 in the USA, Mannatech introduced products in South Africa not so long ago, targeting a health-conscious market. Since it emphasizes research and development, scientifically supported products provide the guarantee factor for the company. Its entrepreneurial opportunities also support flexibility for South Africans in having a nice side income.
Country: USA
Website: https://nz.mannatech.com/
Top Earners: 1
Products & Services: Dietary supplements and Personal care
Founder: Samuel Caster
CEO: Landen Fredrick
Year Founded: 1993
Headquarters: Flower Mound, Texas, USA
Achievements:
- Ranked #56 on the DSN Global 100 list for 2025
Edmark International
Edmark International
Edmark International is a Malaysian MLM company that specializes in health foods and dietary supplements. Being in existence for over two decades since 1984 helped the company venture into the South African market and get followers from a health-focused consumer base. In creating a collaborative environment, Edmark emphasizes distributor support and community engagement, thus contributing to personal and financial growth. Moreover, Edmark proves its quality and customer satisfaction that subsequently acts as a good reputation anchor.
Country: Malaysia
Website: https://edmarker.com/home-2/
Top Earners: NA
Products & Services: Health and Wellness
Founder: Sam Low Ban Chai
CEO: Philip Lim
Year Founded: 1986
Headquarters: NA
Achievements: NA
Discover how we build resilient businesses with advanced MLM functionalities
Quotes from the leaders of top MLM companies in South Africa
Our attractive and continuously evolving agent-centric value proposition continues to resonate with agents from around the world and we are so thrilled to be home to over 1,000 real estate professionals in South Africa!
At Herbalife, our rigorous, science-backed approach fuels innovation and guarantees that every product meets the highest standards of quality, safety and effectiveness. With this new Center of Excellence, we’re accelerating our ability to develop breakthrough health and wellness solutions that our independent distributors can confidently offer to customers worldwide.
When you look at what your organization does and stands for, look at it in two categories: timeless values, things that shouldn’t change, and everything else, which is available for change.
The supportive regulations with evolving market conditions ensure that the South Africa MLM industry is growing further. Network marketing companies are on great tracks to extend further since most people take up direct selling entrepreneurial opportunities. Social media has emerged as a paramount marketing and sales tool, and hence the sector's probable future for upholding the same makes South Africa a good destination for local and international MLM enterprises.
Disclaimer: Epixel neither promotes nor supports any of the companies mentioned in this article nor their products or services. The facts published here are represented as reported in the direct selling industry. The facts don't reflect our priorities. The revenue and earnings figures of MLM earners/companies published in this article are sourced from publicly available information. If you believe any information published here is incorrect, misleading, or infringes on your rights, please contact us immediately. We will review and take appropriate action. Also, if you do not wish to be featured in our content, you may write to us to request removal.
Enterprise MLM Growth Platform
Dynamic Commission Engine
Ensure flexibility, accuracy and transparency
Scalable Infrastructure
Architecture that can handle millions of distributors & & transactions
International Expansion
Multilingual, multi-currency, global compliance & tax ready
Leave your comment
Fill up and remark your valuable comment.