In 1992, two years after the release of Nelson Mandela from prison, BMG became the second of the world's major record companies to open/resume operations in South Africa.
Prior to this, the SA market was controlled between EMI (who handled BMG's distribution), Gallo Africa, and Tusk Music.

Based in Johannesburg, with branches in Cape Town and Durban, BMG Records Africa (Pty) Ltd. covers the entire subcontinent and the Indian Ocean Islands, encompassing 14 countries in all: Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, the Reunion Islands, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The company has recorded in 13 languages, ranging from English to Afrikaans, Zulu, Tsonga, and Malagash.

BMG has since merged with Sony in 2004.