• Kazang makes it easier for spaza shop owners and other micro-merchants to sell value-added services.
• Through its platform micro-merchants can sell airtime, prepaid electricity, pay subscriptions and even buy gaming vouchers.
• Merchants can also benefit from commissions which can be earned by selling VAS through the Kazang platform.

Spaza shops are a staple on the South African landscape. For many, a journey to a retail chain is too costly to buy everyday essentials and spaza shops offer the ability to buy those essentials closer to home.

Local fintech Kazang is hoping to give spaza shop owners the ability to offer more value-added services such as airtime sales, bill payments, gaming voucher sales and more affordably.

The fintech operates a network of some 90 000 devices processing approximately three million transactions a day. These devices enable the sale of value-added services and can give micro merchants such as spaza shop owners a competitive edge.

“There can be little doubt about the central role micro merchants play in the South African economy. They generate employment for hundreds of thousands of people, bring access to goods and services closer to communities in rural areas and townships, and help to keep money circulating in these communities,” explains chief executive officer of Kazang, Martin Wright.

“However, these small and informal merchants also face a range of obstacles in running their businesses. Competition can be fierce, margins are tight, merchants’ exposure to cash crime risks is significant, many face challenges in managing cash flow, and it can be difficult to grow and scale their businesses,” the CEO adds.

Aside from VAS, Kazang’s technology allows business owners to earn commissions on transactions boosting revenues and margins. Furthermore, these technologies can be used to offer free cash withdrawals, accept cashless payments and more without monthly rental costs and affordable fees.

Shop owners can also use a linked wallet to pay for goods from suppliers, lessening reliance on cash and improving security for these merchants.

“Enabling micro merchants with tools to grow and manage their businesses helps to nurture healthy communities and improve inclusion. Fintechs are playing a valuable role in this regard by providing micro merchants with solutions that help them streamline transactions, serve customers better, and ultimately, become more profitable,” says head of merchant and wholesale at Kazang, Jonathan Thomson.

Kazang even offers a cash advance facility for merchants that may need temporary financial support.

Solutions from Kazang are available in Zambia, Botswana, Namibia and South Africa. To find out more about the company and its solutions, head to the official website here.