Vodacom’s M-PESA reaches 3000 outlets nationwide

Vodacom’s mobile money sending and receiving service, M-PESA, has reached more than 3000 outlets nationwide, a senior official told ITNewsAfrica.com on Thursday.

“M-pesa is a Vodacom service in partnership with Nedbank,” said Vodacom Group Executive Head for Corporate Communication, Nomsa Thusi. “It makes it easy to transfer funds from one person to another using a mobile phone. Payment happens instantly so there is no need for delays and no need to carry around a lot of cash so it is a great way to keep money safe Money can be loaded onto a Vodacom cellphone at over 3000 M-PESA outlets which are still growing in number, making it a very convenient way to send and receive cash quickly.”

“M-pesa outlets are located around the country and include retail stores such as spazas, community service containers, Vodacom shops, 4U shops, all Nedbank branches and over 1800 Nedbank ATM’s,” said Thusi.

Thusi said that customers could register for the service at these outlets and deposit money into their M-PESA account or withdraw it as cash.

“M-PESA is very affordable, costing only R2.45 to send money to a registered user.

“You can send it to any cellphone on any network in South Africa and the receiver can withdraw the money you’ve sent them at an m-pesa outlet or at a Nedbank ATM.

“M-PESA customers can also choose to buy airtime up to the value of R1 000 or transfer the money they’ve received on to other people who might need it,” Thusi added.

She said only Vodacom customers could send money via M-PESA, and anyone with a cellphone in South Africa can receive it.

She said keeping one’s money safe was also really simple.

“When you register you’ll be given a PIN for your M-PESA account which should always be kept confidential. That way no one else will have access to your money,” Thusi said.

By Savious Kwinika