By Siyanda Mthethwa

JOHANNESBURG, Nov 22 (Reuters) - Walmart ( WMT ) opened

its first store in South Africa on Saturday, marking the U.S.

retail giant's debut on the African continent as it seeks a

stake in a competitive market.

More than a hundred shoppers queued for hours outside the

store to take advantage of Walmart's ( WMT ) "Everyday Low Prices" and

shop international products that are not easily available in

South Africa such as designer counter-top air fryers by Drew

Barrymore, Labubu dolls and Dr.Pepper sodas.

"I'm actually here for a specific product that you can't

really get in South Africa....it's a children's toy, Labubu,"

Refilwe Mabale, told Reuters.

Some, like Tshepo Rambau, were hoping to snap up deals

during Black Friday weekend. The 44-year-old told Reuters while

standing in the queue that he was eyeing tech products like WIFI

extenders.

"Hopefully I'll get them cheaper here," he said.

The retailer will also be offering a sixty-minute online

delivery service. This places it in direct competition with

Checkers' Sixty60 on-demand delivery service owned by South

Africa's largest grocery retailer Shoprite.

"Opening the first Walmart ( WMT ) store in South Africa is about

much more than a business milestone, it is a commitment to

helping customers save money and live better by consistently

delivering the lowest total cost for the basket of products they

need," Andrea Albright, executive vice president of Walmart ( WMT ),

said in a statement.

The store, located in Roodepoort, west of Johannesburg, has

has created 80 new jobs and has collaborated with 15 local

small- and medium-enterprises, the retailer said.