OpenAI has officially rolled out its new ChatGPT Go plan across all African countries, including South Africa, introducing local currency support and more affordable AI access.
From 15 October 2025, South African users can now subscribe to ChatGPT Plus for R399 per month, slightly above the converted US$20 price due to the inclusion of South Africa’s 15% value-added tax (VAT). The ChatGPT Pro plan is set at R3,999.99 per month, while the newly launched ChatGPT Go plan costs just R149 per month, offering a lower-cost alternative with selected features.
ChatGPT Go first launched in India as a pilot program before expanding across Asia, and now Africa joins the rollout — marking a significant step in OpenAI’s global expansion strategy.
According to OpenAI, ChatGPT Go users enjoy several upgrades over the free plan, including:
– 10× higher message limits with GPT-5
– 10× more image generations per day
– 10× more file or image uploads per day
– 2× longer memory for personalised chats
However, ChatGPT Go does not include Sora video generation, the Codex agent, or the Deep Research mode found in higher-tier plans.
“Millions of people across Africa are already using ChatGPT to learn new skills, solve everyday problems and start businesses,” said ChatGPT Chief Nick Turley. “With ChatGPT Go, we want to make cutting-edge AI affordable and accessible — so everyone can benefit from it.”
South Africa is among the few nations receiving full rand pricing support, with the following structure:
| Plan | South African Price | US Price | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Go | R149 | $4 (R69) | +115.94% |
| Plus | R399 | $20 (R347) | +14.99% |
| Pro | R3,999.99 | $200 (R3,467) | +15.37% |
Note: ChatGPT Go is not currently available in the United States.
GPT-5 and Sora 2 Updates
The pricing rollout coincides with OpenAI’s latest product launches — GPT-5, its most advanced reasoning model, and Sora 2, an upgraded video generation system.
GPT-5 is now accessible to all users, with Plus subscribers getting enhanced access and Pro users unlocking GPT-5 Pro, a specialised reasoning engine for complex tasks.
“GPT-5 is a unified system with a smart, efficient model that answers most questions and a deeper reasoning model for harder problems,” OpenAI explained. The company added that its router — a mechanism deciding which model to use — is continuously trained based on real-world user feedback.
Meanwhile, Sora 2 delivers more realistic, physically accurate video generation, complete with synchronised sound effects and dialogue. Although officially available only in North America, early testers in South Africa, including MyBroadband, have successfully accessed the platform.
This move underscores OpenAI’s growing focus on the African continent, where AI adoption is accelerating across education, business, and creative sectors.
As ChatGPT Go enters the South African market, it may signal a new era of accessible AI technology — one where the power of GPT-5 can be harnessed by anyone, from students and entrepreneurs to researchers and developers, without breaking the bank.
