Prepaid Electricity Largest Growing Purchase on FNB Cellphone Banking

Purchasing prepaid electricity via FNB Cellphone Banking is growing in popularity as customers begin to see the benefit of using FNB’s self-service channels for these types of transactions. 62% of all prepaid electricity purchases processed by FNB are made on Cellphone Banking. Prepaid electricity purchases via FNB Cellphone Banking have also seen year-on-year growth of

South African Social Security Agency to Pay Social Grants in-House

SASSA will be able to pay social grants in-house, as directed by the SASSA Act, (Act no 9 of 2004) as from 2017, after expiry of the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) contract with Cash Paymaster Services (CPS), which is currently responsible for disbursing social grants. To achieve that, the Minister of social Development,

Infographic: E-commerce in Africa

Emerging markets research firm, Jana has released an infographic showing insights on the e-commerce preferences of African consumers in Nigeria, Kenya & South Africa. Surveying 600 consumers in each country, the company asked respondents questions ranging from their favourite online store to their favourite payment mechanism. Have a look at their insights below:  

South African eCommerce Awards Finalists

As the public voting closes on this the eighth annual South African eCommerce Awards, uAfrica.com is pleased to announce the finalists (in alphabetical order) in the 2013 eCommerce Awards: • Style36.co.za • 5rooms.com • bidorbuy • Citymob • Groupon – South Africa • HomeChoice • Hot Online Fashion • kalahari.com • Loot.co.za • Mr Price

MasterCard and Blue Label Telecoms to Equip 22,000 Traders in SA

MasterCard and Blue Label Telecoms Limited (Blue Label) today announced a partnership that will see 22,000 small traders and rural shops in South Africa equipped with Point of Sale (POS) devices, enabling them to accept card payments for the first time. Blue Label currently provides thousands of POS terminals in South Africa, which are used

eCommerce Merchants Affected by 3D Secure Cut-over

There has been some talk in the merchant community around the Payment Association of South Africa (PASA) mandating 3D Secure for all ecommerce merchants.  PASA had sent a letter to acquirers on the 26th March 2013 requesting an implementation date of 02 April 2013 for acquirers to ensure all merchants are aware of this mandate

KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Treasury: Interruption of the Electronic Payment of Suppliers

The electronic payment system of the state (BAS) has been down since Sunday, 25 August 2013. This meant that departments could not capture and approve payments and the Provincial Treasury could not release the payment run to the Bank for the electronic fund transfer to suppliers. The MEC for Finance in KwaZulu-Natal, Ina Cronjé acknowledges

SnapScan Wins Top prize at MTN Business App of the Year Awards 2013

Mobile payments app SnapScan was voted ‘App of the Year’ at the annual MTN Business App of the Year Awards in Melrose Arch, Johannesburg. The 8-month old start-up from Stellenbosch managed to beat 253 other entrants, including apps from FNB, DStv, and Discovery, to take the top prize. In addition to being named app of the year,

EcoCash to Treble Remittances to Zimbabwe

The volume of remittances coming into Zimbabwe could easily be trebled if the process of sending money is put on Econet Wireless’ EcoCash platform. After nearly nine months of development, Econet says it is now putting the final touches to a platform that will allow remittances to be made between South Africa and Zimbabwe. Zimbabweans

MasterCard and Standard Bank Group Sign Agreement

Ann Cairns, President of International Markets, MasterCard, with Peter Schlebusch, Group Executive, Standard Bank Group celebrate the signing of an agreement strengthening the relationship between MasterCard and Standard Bank Group for another five years. This agreement will expand the remit of MasterCard across the African countries where Standard Bank is present and leverages the use