Connect with us
Anglostratits

Business

Earned Wage Access—A Fintech Marvel Empowering South Africans

Published

on

South Africa

Times are hard for many South Africans. Living costs are rising faster than salaries, leading many households to rely on credit to meet their financial needs. According to Finmark Trust (https://apo-opa.co/4679HVD), 75% of adults who borrowed in 2024 used the credit for essentials like food. This issue is particularly stark among low-income earners who often turn to costly micro-lenders and exploitative loan sharks.

But a new concept, earned wage access, provides a strong alternative, and digital technologies are making it simple for employers to offer this service.

The burden of low-income earners 

Living expenses and debt burdens pressure some households, while others have sudden emergencies such as medical or vehicle bills. A shortfall of household savings often pushes people towards micro- and informal lenders.

These avenues dramatically increase the cost of lending, with legal lenders able to charge 5% interest monthly (https://apo-opa.co/4oNtKzI) as well as numerous administrative fees. Such arrangements can lead cash-strapped earners into deeper financial holes, isolating them from more palatable credit options.

While some can borrow against their salaries, it creates considerable work for employers who need to administer the loans, manage repayment processes, and avoid risks such as money laundering and bank account fraud.

“Corporates spend a lot of their time managing resources, so our teams are inundated with requests from either lending or trying to understand how to manage people’s cash flow. We have many examples where people come through and see how they can access some portion of their money if they have a medical emergency or if they have some type of financial distress. They try their best to really fix that issue,” says Jarred Deacon, Head of Growth at TymeBank ZA.

This is why TymeBank has partnered with Deel Local Payroll to provide early wage access (EWA), a financial empowerment service for businesses that offers a financial lifeline to their struggling employees.

EWA arrives in SA 

We empower the employee and give them the opportunity to access the money as they earn

EWA is not a standard credit service that loans money to individuals. Instead, an employee withdraws a portion of wages they have already earned that month, paid to a predesignated account or provided as vouchers through retailers such as Boxer stores.

“We empower the employee and give them the opportunity to access the money as they earn. Instead of waiting for the 25th, instead of waiting for your payday, you can draw down when you feel you are ready or when you need your money. So, we’re empowering employees through ease of use,” says Deacon.

The service first appeared in the early 2010s in the United States, and well over 7 million US workers used EWA in 2022 (https://apo-opa.co/4lNofyc) for $22 billion in transactions, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau report. EWA is very attractive, with a majority of employees expecting such payment flexibility from their employers. Today, major corporations, including Walmart and McDonald’s, offer EWA.

The service is growing in South Africa, where TymeBank and Paymenow are leading the trend in collaboration with Deel Local Payroll’s PaySpace platform.

“EWA is a modern fintech product. It uses automation and API integration to streamline the underlying processes, making access easy while taking care of regulatory requirements. By using a cloud-native payroll platform such as ours, financial institutions extend EWA services to businesses and their employees. It’s fast, safe, and keeps overheads low,” says Warren van Wyk, Director at Deel Local Payroll.

Responsible finance 

Is it responsible to let employees access their salaries early? While this is a concern, most employees are using EWA wisely, only accessing relatively small portions of their wages.

According to Paymenow (https://apo-opa.co/3HUTp92), the average employee draws around 10% of their monthly wages ahead of paydays. Employers are also able to set a cap on withdrawals, typically between 25% and 30%.

EWA avoids lending conditions where fees and repayments can dramatically exceed the loaned amounts. The service also improves productivity and employee wellbeing, since many employees say that financial stress occupies their minds while working, and some spend several work hours focusing on personal finance issues.

Financial worries and lack of access to reasonable credit options are pushing many South Africans to the brink, heaping pressure on their jobs, their families, and their employers. Early wage access, powered by cloud-native digital fintech platforms, provides an alternative that employees can trust and employers can control.

“It’s amazingly seamless,” says Van Wyk. “In some examples, employees can access funds through USSD menus or apps on their phones, and the financial service provider handles most of the due diligence and compliance, not the employer. We’ve often heard that digital innovation can democratise finance for more South Africans. EWA is an excellent example of that promise in action.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Deel Local Payroll, powered by PaySpace.

Business

Aurionpro expands its multi-country transaction banking engagement with Diamond Trust Bank (DTB)

Published

on

Aurionpro

Aurionpro’s upgraded iCashpro platform for DTB delivers a unified digital experience across payments, trade, virtual accounts, and real-time reporting, enhancing straight-through processing, visibility, and control for both the bank and its corporate customers

MUMBAI, India, April 30, 2026/APO Group/ –Aurionpro Solutions Limited (www.AurionPro.com) (BSE: 532668 | NSE: AURIONPRO)a global leader in banking technology, announced the expansion and upgrade of its transaction banking engagement with Diamond Trust Bank (DTB), to modernize and enhance the bank’s corporate transaction banking capabilities across multiple countries.

Download Document: https://apo-opa.co/4edHUaC

This multi-country transaction banking upgrade covering Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania aligns with DTB’s intent to enhance customer experience, streamline operations, and support growing transaction volumes as it expands its regional corporate banking footprint. DTB continues to focus on building a more agile, ‘digital-first’ banking experience, particularly around payments for its corporate customers across Africa, and is now well positioned to scale these capabilities. As part of its broader transformation agenda, the bank has been steadily investing in platforms that enhance scale, reliability, and service consistency across markets.

Through this partnership, we are proud to lead the next era of transformation in transaction banking, helping DTB enhance operational agility

Aurionpro’s upgraded iCashpro platform for DTB delivers a unified digital experience across payments, trade, virtual accounts, and real-time reporting, enhancing straight-through processing, visibility, and control for both the bank and its corporate customers. By enabling DTB to standardize and scale its transaction banking operations across countries, the platform ensures consistent service levels, stronger control, and improved efficiency. It also supports enhanced user experience, advanced security, and the flexibility to introduce new features as DTB expands its regional transaction banking footprint.

Murali Natarajan (https://apo-opa.co/48trPdk), Managing Director & CEO, DTB Kenya   commented: “We are delighted to strengthen and broaden our partnership with Aurionpro Solutions as part of DTB’s ongoing digital transformation journey across multiple markets. Our focus on innovation, operational excellence, and customer-centricity continues to guide our technology investments. This upgrade strengthens our transaction banking capabilities, enabling us to deliver greater value to our customers through robust digital channels and seamlessly integrated experiences.”

Ashish Rai, Group CEO, Aurionpro Solutions, commented: “We are pleased to deepen our multi-country engagement with Diamond Trust Bank and support the next phase of its transaction banking modernization. As DTB continues to scale across markets, platform resilience and consistency become paramount. Through this partnership, we are proud to lead the next era of transformation in transaction banking, helping DTB enhance operational agility, deliver superior experiences to corporate customers, and create long-term value across geographies.”

He added, “Aurionpro’s iCashpro lays a strong digital foundation for transaction & wholesale banks across the globe to grow their corporate and SME client portfolio today, while creating a clear roadmap for next- generation capabilities in AI-driven insights, advanced automation and API-led connectivity for businesses in Kenya and across Africa.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Aurionpro Solutions Ltd.

 

Continue Reading

Business

Minerals Council Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Joins African Mining Week (AMW) as South Africa Improves Sectorial Investment Climate

Published

on

Energy Capital

Minerals Council CEO to share insights on policy, infrastructure and investment trends shaping South Africa’s mining industry

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, April 30, 2026/APO Group/ –The upcoming African Mining Week (AMW) conference will feature Mzila Mthenjane, CEO of the Minerals Council of South Africa, as a speaker. Scheduled for October 14 – 16, 2026 in Cape Town, the event will bring together global investors, policymakers and industry leaders, with Mthenjane’s participation highlighting the council’s commitment to engaging international stakeholders and promoting investment across South Africa’s mining sector.

His participation comes at a critical moment as the Minerals Council works closely with government on finalizing the Mineral Resources Development Bill 2025, a policy framework aimed at strengthening the country’s mining investment climate and the sector’s contribution to GDP. According to the council, the revised legislation will support new investment across the value chain as South Africa seeks to mobilize R2 trillion over the next five years to unlock its critical minerals potential.

The policy reforms come amid shifting production trends in the sector. In 2025, South Africa recorded declines in gold and platinum group metals output of 1.9% and 4.1%, respectively. The new regulatory framework is expected to strengthen public-private partnerships and stimulate investment, enabling South Africa to increase production and capitalize on strong global commodity prices. Increased private sector investments is crucial with South Africa seeking targeting to unlock an estimated R40 trillion in untapped iron ore potential as well as maintain its position as the world’s leading producer of chrome and manganese.

At AMW 2026, Mthenjane is expected to outline these trends, providing insights into how the council is contributing to addressing challenges disrupting the sector. Infrastructure and energy costs remain key concerns for industry players. To support the energy-intensive sector, South Africa approved a 35% reduction in electricity tariffs for major ferrochrome producers, helping stabilize an industry that has faced significant cost pressures after electricity prices surged by roughly 900% since 2008.

Logistics constraints are also a priority area for reform. South Africa’s economy is losing an estimated R1 billion per day due to inefficiencies across rail and port infrastructure. As a result, the government is considering measures supported by the Minerals Council to increase private sector participation in logistics. Planned reforms include rail modernization initiatives targeting 250 million tons of freight capacity by 2029, alongside port upgrades and private operator participation aimed at strengthening mineral exports and improving supply chain efficiency.

Beyond infrastructure and policy reforms, the Minerals Council is advocating for stronger exploration investment to support long-term industry growth.

At AMW, Mthenjane is expected to highlight these developments and outline the steps required to reinforce South Africa’s position in the global minerals supply chain. His insights will offer investors and stakeholders a timely perspective on opportunities within the country’s mining sector.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

Continue Reading

Energy

Seychelles Targets Energy Investment Push as Minister Jérémie Joins African Energy Week (AEW) 2026 as a Speaker

Published

on

African Energy Chamber

Seychelles energy minister will speak at AEW 2026, positioning her to highlight reforms, renewable projects and investment opportunities as the island nation advances its transition toward a diversified energy system

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, April 29, 2026/APO Group/ –Marie-May Jérémie, Minister of Environment, Climate, Energy and Natural Resources for Seychelles will participate as a speaker at this year’s African Energy Week (AEW) 2026, taking place from October 12–16 in Cape Town. Her participation underscores the country’s growing role in shaping Africa’s small-island energy transition agenda.

Minister Jérémie’s presence at AEW 2026 comes at a critical time as Seychelles accelerates efforts to reduce its heavy reliance on imported fossil fuels. The event provides a platform to attract investment, strengthen policy alignment and showcase bankable projects, positioning the country as a viable destination for private-sector participation in island energy systems.

Seychelles is demonstrating how policy reform and innovation can unlock investment in constrained environments

In May last year, international finance institution the World Bank approved the Renewable Energy Acceleration Program, a seven-year initiative aimed at modernizing the grid and increasing renewable energy penetration to 15% by 2030. The program focuses on unlocking private capital while strengthening transmission infrastructure to accommodate variable renewable energy sources.

Project development is gaining traction in the country, particularly in innovative technologies suited to Seychelles’ land constraints. The 5.8 MW Seysun Lagoon floating solar PV project, developed by independent renewable power producer Qair, is under construction and expected online in 2026.

Alongside renewables, Seychelles continues to pursue upstream opportunities to diversify its economy. The government approved new exploration entrants in 2025 and extended exiting petroleum agreements, while securing an infrastructure partnership with China. Multilateral estimates suggest over $800 million in investment will be required over the next 25 years.

Regulatory reform is central to this transition, with Seychelles introducing an independent power producer framework to open the market to private developers. Standardized power purchase agreements, grid access reforms and strengthened public-private partnership structures are being implemented to improve transparency, reduce risk and accelerate project bankability across solar, storage and emerging wind opportunities.

“Minister Jérémie’s participation highlights the strategic importance of island nations in Africa’s broader energy transition,” says NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, African Energy Chamber. “Seychelles is demonstrating how policy reform and innovation can unlock investment in constrained environments. Her insights will be critical to advancing dialogue on resilient, low-carbon energy systems across the continent.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

Continue Reading

Trending