From Cash to Cashless: How South Africa is Leading the Mobile Payment Revolution
The shift to mobile payments in South Africa isn’t just a trend; it’s a transformation. According to the latest MEF Consumer Survey, between 2020 and 2025, mobile payments for in-store purchases soared from 36% to 59%, a 23pp increase. Online retail payments saw an even greater leap, from 41% to 68%, marking a 27pp rise. Food delivery payments climbed to 73% (22pp) and ride-share services to 65% (14pp), demonstrating a clear preference for digital transactions. South Africa’s growth rates and current adoption percentages consistently exceed global averages across all categories, indicating a pronounced local embrace of mobile payment solutions relative to international trends.
