Some updates:

MARS will do something for Black Friday 23rd-26th Nov. There's a competition, spend R500 and get entered into a competition (R50k prizes) - though no deals listed yet.

Bothners have a Black Friday list up

Ernie Ball strings are around 15-30% off (all flavours)
Mackie Mixers are also on specials - decent pricing!
Ibanez SR300 bass at R3999 - best price I've seen.
Also some decent deals on audio interfaces (Roland/Focusrite)

Lots of other gear listed, but I couldn't find the Fender Std Strat R7395 that they listed in their email flyer - probably one at that price and I reckon it was sold before the flyer went out...? THough I think they'll get close to that price instore on Fri/Sat if you are persistent.

Some new bits from Raru - seems like the pre black friday deals will be daily!

A Surf Green FSR Bullet Squire Tele at R2699 (2 left). Okay, that's cheap for a through strung tele.

A Ibanez SR370 bass at R4499. Decent price too!

wern101 Well I am not impressed

So far, Me neither! Takealot was a waste of time, Raru 1st batch boring (though there'll be deals through the day) and Bothners uninspiring!

Audiomart have a sale going - but nothing overly exciting for us guitarists. Mostly mics, lighting & PA.
https://www.soundselect.co.za/ also have a sale on - much the same stuff as AudioMart. If you are looking for a mixer, the Behringer Xenyx 502 is R650.
Marshall Music Have a range of things for "Black Firday Sale "(sic). First is was BLCK FRDY and now Firday. Hope these guys are great musicians...? Nothing much to shout about, what deals are listed are on main page and you can't browse them - fail.
[Mars] Havn't published any prices online as yet - you'd have to do a store visit to get any info.

I'll update when there's more deals - I suspect that Raru is the only one worth keeping a eye one through the day, next batch of deals at 11am. Might pop into Bothners this weekend to see if there;s a silly instore thing going down.

Nothing new to report today - the last set of deals from Raru seems like the last set from them this weekend.

Looks like the deals will hold till sunday/monday for most retailers.

Did spot a few things that I thought was intersting.

Bothners can't give this guitar away, I've seen this CortG260 in thier online store through a bunch of sales. I reckon an offer of R1500 in-store would buy this. Shedload of guitar for little $ - even if it's not a black friday offering, it's still a deal : https://www.bothnermusic.co.za/en/cort-g260b-black-electric-guitar

Ernie Ball Slinky bass strings ar R290 - sold out, but that was a good deal! : https://www.bothnermusic.co.za/en/electric-bass-guitar-strings-ernie-ball-regualr-slinky-bass-3-pack

Here's my laugh of the sale : Raru "versus"* Bothners

Raru Squire SS starter pack: R3499

Bothners Squire SS starter pack: R4320

*I say versus, because it clearly isn't - My personal opinion is that Bothners 'dumped' a bunch of stuff via Raru not to affect their ability to manage their pricing instore. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

I'd like to award Raru the online retailer of Black Friday award. Site was up, some deals were good (and varied) and they had pre sales and updated during the day.

The raazie goes to takealot that had literally one deal on musical instruments, which was cheaper pretty much everywhere else.

Overall, It was a improvement over last year - some things were actually cheap! As in slightly below what you'd expect to pay internationally. Although that was the exception - not the rule - I don't think many retailers covered themselves in glory.

V8 Raru Squire SS starter pack: R3499

Bothners Squire SS starter pack: R4320

To me, you pay whatever Raru asks. But you visit Bothers and negotiate a price better than Raru. Great if you live nearby Bothners or happen to be passing, not so much otherwise.