It was first contested in February 2008, over the Gary Player designed championship course at the Fish River Sun Country Club, near Port Alfred.

In 2009, the Africa Open had a prize fund of R5 million, over four times that of the inaugural event.

The Sunshine Tour hoped that it would attract a stronger field as a result, and possibly lead to a co-sanctioning agreement with the European Tour in subsequent years.

[2] In 2009, it was announced that the Africa Open would be included on the 2010 European Tour schedule.

It was the third event of the four tournament South African swing of the tour, held after the Alfred Dunhill Championship and the South African Open, and the week before the Joburg Open.