iKhokha retailers now accept MasterPass 

For the first time in South Africa, consumers can use their smartphones to pay in-store at iKhokha retailers. By Staff Writer

Shoppers can now use MasterPass, the digital commerce platform from MasterCard, to safely and seamlessly pay for in-store or face-to-face purchases at over 2,000 iKhokha retailers and service providers in South Africa using their smartphones or tablets.

“Our association with iKhokha extends MasterPass’ acceptance beyond online stores into the physical retail world, enabling South Africans to make fast, seamless and secure digital payments online, in-app and now in-store too using any connected device,” says Ann Cairns, President for International Markets, MasterCard.

Since its launch in South Africa in July 2014, MasterPass has grown its acceptance network, with consumers able to pay using the digital wallet at more than 370 South African merchants including Takealot.com, Flysaa.com (South African Airways), Le Creuset, Flymango.com (Mango Airlines) and www.netflorist.co.za as well as over 250,000 merchants internationally.

“This positive uptake by merchants and consumers is indicative that digital payments are growing in popularity,” says Cairns. “And today, we are excited to offer MasterPass users even more places to pay digitally at iKhokha retailers and service providers.”

When shoppers choose to pay iKhokha retailers using MasterPass, they simply open the MasterPass app on their mobile device, and scan the unique QR code that is generated on the iKhokha retailer’s smart device. After shoppers enter their bank PIN number or 3DSecure code and CVV/CVC number on their own device, the transaction is complete.

“What excites us is that through our collaboration with MasterCard and MasterPass we are helping our merchants walk the journey from cash to card to digital acceptance. If a customer wants to pay with it, our iKhokha merchants need to be able to accept it, and we need to make that process frictionless for both parties. Providing Small and Medium Enterprises with cash recording capabilities, as well as digital and physical card payment acceptance, in one mobile app is to our knowledge an African first,” says Matt Putman, managing director at iKhokha.

One such retailer is Ruth Mafupa, owner of Natural Moisture, a natural hair and beauty enterprise that manufactures products and then sells them wholesale to salons and directly to consumers online and from her store in Johannesburg. She accepts card payments on an iKhokha mobile point of sale device connected to her smart phone, as well as online and now in-store digital MasterPass payments using the iKhokha app.

The MasterPass app and iKhokha merchant app are both available from the iTunes and Google Play stores.

• Email TechFinancials.co.za at: [email protected]