Shop2Shop and Pay@ Turn Township Corner Stores into Community Payment Centres

Shop2Shop and Pay@ Turn Township Corner Stores into Community Payment Centres. South Africa’s informal retail sector is expanding its role in financial services through a new partnership between Shop2Shop and Pay@, enabling neighbourhood convenience stores to process a wide range of bill payments while creating new income opportunities for small business owners.

The collaboration allows participating traders to accept payments for more than 500 billers using their existing Shop2Shop card machines, giving customers access to services such as municipal account payments, retail store accounts and other bills closer to where they live.

The initiative is aimed at improving access to financial services, particularly in township and rural communities where residents often travel long distances to towns or shopping centres to settle monthly accounts.

Using the service, customers provide their account reference number, which is entered into the Shop2Shop terminal by the retailer. Payments are processed in real time, and customers receive an official receipt immediately after the transaction is completed.

According to the companies, the platform supports both cash and card payments, making it accessible to both banked and unbanked customers.

Beyond improving convenience for consumers, the partnership also creates an additional revenue stream for informal retailers. Every payment processed earns the trader a commission, which is automatically credited to their Shop2Shop wallet. Because the functionality is already integrated into existing Shop2Shop devices, retailers do not need to purchase additional equipment or invest in new technology to begin offering the service.

The companies also expect the service to increase customer foot traffic, creating opportunities for retailers to boost sales of everyday goods as customers visit their stores to pay bills.

“What we love about this solution is that it makes payments accessible to underserved communities,” said Annelene Dippenaar, Chief Business Officer at Shop2Shop.

“The local shop becomes a little business-in-a-box and a neighbourhood payment point. The trader earns a new income stream with no new machine and no cost, customers get formal services on their doorstep, and the money stays inside the community instead of leaving it.”

Since launching at the end of April 2026, the service has recorded more than 30,000 transactions valued at over R7 million, according to the companies. The average transaction value stands at approximately R233.

The partnership processed more than 11,000 transactions during its first full month of operation in May, before increasing to around 18,000 payments during June, despite the absence of a formal marketing campaign.

The companies said repayments for device-financing services, particularly PayJoy and FoneYam, have generated the highest demand, highlighting the growing need for accessible digital financial services within South Africa’s informal economy.

Lani van der Merwe, Payment Network Manager at Pay@, said the partnership is designed to make essential payment services more accessible.

“Pay@’s mission has always been to make payments as seamless, simple and accessible as possible. Partnering with Shop2Shop brings that to life. A customer no longer has to travel kilometres into town and lose time or wages just to pay a bill.”