JOHANNESBURG--Wal-Mart Stores Inc (WMT) is confident its $2.4 billion takeover of South African retailer Massmart Holdings (MSM.JO) will go ahead, despite an appeal against the deal by one of the country's unions, the retailer said Wednesday.

"SACCAWU's Notice of Appeal has no impact on the implementation of the transaction, including steps already taken and those still to be taken," it said in a joint release with Massmart.

South Africa's Competition Tribunal has cleared Wal-Mart to buy a 51% stake in the retailer but unions oppose the deal, fearing Wal-Mart will increase imports, so squeezing out local suppliers and endangering jobs.

-By Devon Maylie, Dow Jones Newswires; +27 (11) 783 7848; devon.maylie@dowjones.com