Pay@ and OTT partnership expands digital access for South Africa’s cash-first consumers

Collaboration aims to bridge the country’s cash-to-digital divide and boost financial inclusion through secure voucher-based payments, according to IT News Africa.

Lani van der Merwe, Payment Network Manager at Pay@

South Africa’s digital payments ecosystem is evolving rapidly, yet millions remain on the margins of formal financial systems. Although nearly half of adults across sub-Saharan Africa now hold a bank account, a figure that has more than doubled since 2011, cash still dominates daily transactions for many South Africans.

According to IT News Africa, a new partnership between Pay@, one of the country’s leading payment aggregators, and OTT Voucher, a secure digital cash platform, is helping to close this gap. The collaboration enables consumers to convert physical cash into single-use digital codes for online and in-app payments , allowing them to pay bills and shop online safely, even without a bank card or account.

“South Africa has relatively high banking penetration, but almost four million citizens remain either underbanked or entirely unbanked,” said Lani van der Merwe, Payment Network Manager at Pay@. “At the same time, cybercrime is rising sharply, reinforcing the need for trusted and secure alternatives that can bring financially excluded consumers into the digital economy.”

Voucher-based payments have become a popular bridge between the cash and digital worlds. By offering flexibility and anonymity, they provide a viable option for consumers who are risk-averse, privacy-conscious, or simply prefer to manage spending without linking to a bank.

Through the Pay@–OTT collaboration, consumers gain a simple and secure way to make bill and e-commerce payments, while businesses benefit from reaching a wider customer base. “Financial inclusion starts with choice,” explained Clare Parker, Head of Marketing at OTT. “Voucher payments serve as an accessible pathway to the digital economy, enabling participation in e-commerce and everyday financial services while reducing exposure to card-related fraud.”

OTT Vouchers are available across South Africa through both formal and informal retail networks, including Shoprite, Pick n Pay, and Boxer, as well as major banking apps. The partnership with Pay@ enhances this reach, offering customers the convenience of buying vouchers wherever they already shop or refuel.

Since its launch in August, Pay@ has reported steady growth in OTT Voucher transactions, with thousands of monthly payments already processed. The company’s earlier collaboration with 1Voucher also played a key role in normalizing voucher-based payments across the country.

Together, these partnerships underscore how fintech innovation is redefining financial access in South Africa, proving that digital transformation is not only about technology, but about creating secure and inclusive pathways for everyone to participate in the economy.