Leaf International Communications have announced that the Android Market will be available to South Africans in August 2009.

“HTC was the first to launch Android-based handsets in South Africa during May 2009,” says Stephen Strachan, marketing director at Leaf. “At the time, the Android Market was unavailable to local users and, while we have developed a local application portal, it is great that consumer demand has resulted in Google allowing local users to access this popular global portal. Leaf, together with HTC is exceptionally proud to bring the Android market to the South African consumer”.

For users who already own an HTC Android device a software upgrade is necessary. The upgrade will be available at Leaf regional offices, Leaf retail stores and from www.leaf.co.za.

The availability of the Android Market will surely make Android devices that much more appealing; after all the entire point of a smartphone is personalising it with apps. 

[Update: only free applications will be avalible in South Africa]