Shop2Shop and Pay@ have partnered to help township and informal retailers create new revenue opportunities by allowing them to offer bill payment services through existing Shop2Shop card machines.
The initiative allows small businesses to process payments for more than 500 billers, including municipalities, retail accounts and other service providers, through a single connection. Traders do not need to invest in additional equipment, allowing them to start offering the service using the payment terminals they already have.
Finding new ways to increase income while attracting customers remains a key challenge for many township SMEs.
The partnership gives retailers another way to generate revenue by earning commission on every successful bill payment processed, while also increasing foot traffic into their stores.
Customers visiting local shops to pay their bills may also purchase groceries and other household essentials, creating additional sales opportunities for retailers.
Turning local shops into community service points
The partnership reflects a growing shift among township retailers, who are expanding beyond traditional retail to offer additional services that address community needs.
Annelene Dippenaar, chief business officer at Shop2Shop, said the solution helps traders grow their businesses without taking on additional costs.
“The local shop becomes a business-in-a-box and a neighbourhood payment point. The trader gains an additional income stream without needing new equipment or incurring any extra costs,” said Dippenaar.
She added that the service also helps keep money within local communities by allowing residents to access formal services closer to home.
“Customers can access formal services on their doorstep, and the money stays within the community instead of flowing out of it,” she said.
Paying bills for customers in township and rural communities has often meant travelling to shopping centres or municipal offices, resulting in transport expenses and time away from work.
Through the partnership, customers can settle their accounts at participating Shop2Shop retailers using either cash or bank cards. Payments are processed in real time, and customers receive a receipt once the transaction is completed.
Improving access to digital payment services
Lani van der Merwe, payment network manager at Pay@, said the partnership supports the company’s goal of making payment services easier and more accessible.
“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. The trader becomes a trusted hub for the community, and the growth we’ve seen, almost entirely through word of mouth, shows just how real that need is,” said Van der Merwe.
The service is also accessible to both banked and unbanked customers because payments can be made through different payment methods.
Early results show strong demand
Since launching at the end of April 2026, the partnership has recorded strong demand among Shop2Shop traders.
More than 30 000 transactions worth over R7 million have been processed through the network, with an average transaction value of R233.
More than 11 000 transactions were completed in May, the first full month after launch, despite no formal marketing campaign. The service later reached 18 000 transactions within four weeks in June.
The strongest demand has come from device-financing providers such as PayJoy and FoneYam, showing growing demand for digital financial services and connectivity solutions in township communities.
With one Pay@ integration, retailers can access more than 500 billers and over 40 payment networks, allowing them to provide a wider range of services from one device.
Shop2Shop and Pay@ said they are looking to add more services to the platform, including cash deposits, payouts and additional billers.
The service gives township retailers another way to earn income while offering customers more reasons to use their local shops.
