How to Build Local Backlinks Without Having Country-Specific Domains?

I’m working on a project targeting a specific country (like South Africa), but I’m struggling to find local (.za) domains for backlinks.

Most of the sites I can post on are global (.com, .net, etc.). I’m wondering — can I still make my backlinks “locally relevant” if they’re not from country-based domains?

Would adding local keywords, city names, or regional context in the content/anchor help?
Or does Google really prioritize backlinks only from that country’s TLDs?

Curious how you guys handle local link building when local sites are limited. Any smart tricks or workarounds that have worked for you? 🙌