前往东亚的荷兰海员可能在17世纪将马铃薯带到南非（据说水手们鼓励在停靠港种植马铃薯，这样他们就可以在海洋航行期间不断有新鲜的马铃薯供应）。南非的马铃薯产量在过去几十年中增长，从1990年的120万吨增加到2015年创纪录的250万吨。
同时，马铃薯种植面积也在下降，从63000公顷减少到52000公顷。
532个种植马铃薯的农场（2017年）大多数都是相对较大的农场，这些农场越来越多地采用灌溉（现在占比约为80％），平均产量约为每公顷34吨。
南非拥有复杂的种薯业，这在很大程度上要归功于该国快速的城市化速度以及充满活力的马铃薯加工业，在该地每年加工约40万吨马铃薯（2015年），主要用于冷冻薯条和薯片。每年马铃薯消费量约为30公斤。
1990年至2017年期间南非马铃薯产业的发展（图片来源：土豆南非)
| Potato Production in 2017 : | 2450540.00 | tonnes | Official data | ℹ |
| Potato Yield in 2017 : | 361723.00 | hg/ha | Calculated data | ℹ |
| Potato Area Harvested in 2017 : | 67746.00 | ha | FAO data based on imputation methodology | ℹ |
| Sweet Potato Production in 2017 : | 73945.00 | tonnes | Official data | ℹ |
| Sweet Potato Yield in 2017 : | 28072.00 | hg/ha | Calculated data | ℹ |
| Sweet Potato Area Harvested in 2017 : | 26341.00 | ha | FAO data based on imputation methodology | ℹ |
| Potato Production in 2016 : | 2150840.00 | tonnes | Official data | ℹ |
| Potatoes (Fresh and Processed) , Consumption (Crop Equivalent) in 2011: | 33.12 | kg/capita/year | ℹ | Potatoes (Fresh and Processed) |
| Sweet Potatoes , Consumption (Crop Equivalent) in 2011: | 0.91 | kg/capita/year | ℹ | Sweet Potatoes |
| Potatoes (Fresh and Processed) , Consumption (Crop Equivalent) in 2010: | 32.32 | kg/capita/year | ℹ | Potatoes (Fresh and Processed) |
| Sweet Potatoes , Consumption (Crop Equivalent) in 2010: | 1.15 | kg/capita/year | ℹ | Sweet Potatoes |
| Potatoes (Fresh and Processed) , Consumption (Crop Equivalent) in 2009: | 28.67 | kg/capita/year | ℹ | Potatoes (Fresh and Processed) |
| Sweet Potatoes , Consumption (Crop Equivalent) in 2009: | 1.10 | kg/capita/year | ℹ | Sweet Potatoes |
| Potatoes (Fresh and Processed) , Consumption (Crop Equivalent) in 2008: | 32.21 | kg/capita/year | ℹ | Potatoes (Fresh and Processed) |
