Pokémon in South Africa

The Pokémon franchise first reached the Republic of South Africa with the airing of Pokémon - I Choose You! on SABC 2 on June 26, 2000.

Pokémon in South Africa
Flag of South Africa
Language	English, Afrikaans, Sotho, Xhosa, Zulu, others
Continent	Africa
Original animated series airdates
EP001	June 26, 2000
AG001	?
DP001	?
BW001	?
XY001	August 4, 2015
SM001	June 13, 2017
JN001	September 1, 2020
HZ001	March 25, 2024

Pokémon video games

Most English-language Pokémon games have been released in South Africa. As European consoles and games are sold in South Africa by Nintendo of Europe, new games are released on the same day as in Europe, which is usually around the same time or shortly after their respective releases in the United States. Historically, most Pokémon games came out in Europe and South Africa several months after the United States. As of 2024, The Core Computer Business is the official distributor of Nintendo in South Africa. As South Africa uses its own rating system, games are rated there by the Film and Publication Board rather than PEGI.

Pokémon GO was released in South Africa on October 5, 2016, three months after its release in the United States. Pokémon Smile was the first mobile app published by The Pokémon Company to be released in South Africa; Pokémon Quest, Pokémon HOME, and Pokémon Café ReMix were not released for mobile devices, and are only available for the Nintendo Switch.

Pokémon animation

e.tv logo

Cartoon Network logo

The English dub of the Pokémon animated series has been shown on SABC 2, e.tv, M-Net, Disney XD, Nicktoons, and Cartoon Network Africa in South Africa.

The first season, Pokémon: Indigo League, premiered during the Tube programming block on SABC 2. The first 26 episodes of the season aired from June 26 to August 8, 2000 on Mondays through Thursdays at 3:30 PM. Prior to the launch of the series, the broadcaster had independent researchers evaluate the appeal of the program to the target demographic of children aged 7–12 as well as whether the content was safe for children.

In 2000 and 2001, Pokémon aired on e.tv on weekdays at 4:00 PM, which included the premiere of Pokémon: Adventures in the Orange Islands. Pokémon: The Johto Journeys premiered on e.tv on June 5, 2001, and aired on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 4 PM.

Episodes from Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire, Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl, and Pokémon the Series: Black & White have aired on eToonz+, a sister channel of e.tv.

e.tv began airing episodes from the Pokémon the Series: XY on August 4, 2015 every Tuesday at 3:30 PM. Pokémon the Series: XY Kalos Quest aired on Disney XD on weekdays from April 25 to May 23, 2016. The 19th season, Pokémon the Series: XYZ, began airing on e.tv on July 5, 2016.

Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon premiered on e.tv on June 13, 2017 and completed its run on April 10, 2018. The season also aired on NickToons Africa on weekdays beginning October 2, 2017 and in January 2018. Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon—Ultra Adventures premiered on e.tv on June 5, 2018 and completed its run on May 14, 2019. Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon—Ultra Legends premiered on e.tv on May 21, 2019 and completed its run on June 2, 2020.

Pokémon Journeys: The Series began airing on e.tv every Tuesday at 3:55 PM on September 1, 2020 and completed its run on July 27, 2021. Pokémon Master Journeys: The Series began airing on e.tv every Tuesday at 3:55 PM on August 3, 2021, moved to start at 3:45 PM beginning on April 12, 2022, and completed its run on May 17, 2022. Pokémon Ultimate Journeys: The Series began airing on e.tv every Tuesday at 3:45 PM beginning on August 2, 2022 and completed its run on August 8, 2023.

Cartoon Network Africa began airing episodes of Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon every weekday at 5:30 PM CAT on October 9, 2023. Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon—Ultra Adventures began on December 11, 2023, and Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon—Ultra Legends began on January 15, 2023; both seasons had two episodes aired each weekday at 5:30 PM CAT and 5:50 PM CAT. Pokémon Horizons: The Series began airing on Cartoon Network Africa every weekday at 5:30 PM CAT on March 25, 2024 and completed its run on October 11, 2024. Pokémon Horizons: Season 2—The Search for Laqua will begin airing on Cartoon Network Africa every Saturday and Sunday at 10:15 AM CAT on April 26, 2025.

Pokémon movies

Celebi: The Voice of the Forest, Pokémon Heroes: Latios & Latias, Jirachi: Wish Maker, and Destiny Deoxys have previously aired on M-Net.

Lucario and the Mystery of Mew, Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea, The Rise of Darkrai, Giratina and the Sky Warrior, Arceus and the Jewel of Life, Kyurem VS. The Sword of Justice, and Genesect and the Legend Awakened have previously aired on e.tv or eToonz+.

Arceus and the Jewel of Life, Giratina and the Sky Warrior, and Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction have previously aired on Disney XD.

Hoopa and the Clash of Ages, Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel, I Choose You!, and The Power of Us premiered on e.tv on October 14, 2016, June 9, 2017, June 1, 2018, and April 1, 2020, respectively.

POKÉMON Detective Pikachu premiered in theaters on May 17, 2019.

I Choose You! premiered on Cartoon Network Africa on December 2, 2023 at 9:10 AM CAT. The Power of Us premiered on April 1, 2024 at 9:10 AM CAT. Mewtwo Strikes Back—Evolution premiered on May 1, 2024 at 9:10 AM CAT.

VOD services

The Pokémon animated series is available on Netflix, and was previously available on Pokémon TV. Mewtwo Strikes Back—Evolution, Secrets of the Jungle, Pokémon: The Arceus Chronicles, and Pokémon Concierge premiered exclusively on Netflix.

Pokémon the Series: Black & White, White—Victini and Zekrom, and POKÉMON Detective Pikachu were available on Showmax in South Africa.

Pokémon manga

Pokémon manga licensed and translated into English by VIZ Media is available in South Africa. This includes Magical Pokémon Journey, Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Adventure!, and the popular Pokémon Adventures series.

Pokémon Trading Card Game

English-language cards for the Pokémon Trading Card Game are sold in South Africa, with expansions becoming available a few months after their release in the United States. Solarpop is the current distributor in South Africa, and a participating retailer in the Play! Pokémon Prerelease Program.

Pokémon merchandise

Pokémon Tazos were available in South Africa.

Community

A small number of officially sanctioned Pokémon Leagues and tournaments take place in South Africa. Pokémon GO League events were launched in South Africa on September 9, 2024. Pokémon VGC League events were launched in South Africa on November 4, 2024. However, unlike players from most countries, South African players are not eligible for Travel Awards to International Championships or to the World Championships as of the 2025 season.

Events

Several event Pokémon have made their way to South Africa, including the Summer 2012 Keldeo, the Summer 2013 Shiny Pokémon of myth, and the Pokémon 20th Anniversary Mythical Pokémon.

External links

• The official South Africa Pokémon website (redirects to Pokémon.com)
• Pokémon Games on the Nintendo Online Store South Africa
• Pokémon TCG on Solarpop

Related articles

This article is part of Project Globe, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on the Pokémon franchise around the world.