Telecommunications group MTN MoMo South Africa and global technology company Mastercard have expanded their strategic collaboration, building on existing efforts to broaden access to digital financial services and support greater financial inclusion across South Africa.

MTN MoMo’s local reach combined with Mastercard’s secure and trusted technology will enable more South Africans to access and benefit from the digital economy, with new features introduced to the MoMo platform.

“Our goal is to make digital financial services more accessible, secure and relevant to the everyday needs of South Africans,” said MTN Fintech South Africa CEO Kagiso Mothibi.

One of the new features includes the ability for users to top up their MoMo Wallet using debit and credit cards through Mastercard’s Payment Gateway, offering a seamless, secure and convenient experience for users, regardless of their location.

“Through our collaboration with Mastercard, we are enabling MoMo Wallet users to fund their wallets using debit and credit cards.”

Further enhancements incorporate Mastercard’s tokenisation security technology, which replaces sensitive payment card details such as the 16-digit card number, expiry date and CVC with a unique digital identifier called a token.

This supports secure, one-click top-ups and offers users faster, more convenient MoMo Wallet funding with higher transaction success rates.

“Security is central to MTN’s offering. By integrating Mastercard’s advanced fraud monitoring tools, we are strengthening protection for users and building greater trust in digital financial services,” added Mastercard Southern Africa country manager Gabriël Swanepoel.

By combining Mastercard’s global network and security expertise with MTN’s reach, more individuals and small businesses are assisted to participate in the digital economy.

“We are focused on enabling choice and convenience, whether it is through secure digital payments or new ways to access financial services.”

MTN MoMo and Mastercard aim to create pathways for more South Africans to benefit from the opportunities of a connected, digital-first economy.

“These innovations are not just about convenience, they are about inclusion. Many South Africans have limited or no credit history. By using the MoMo Wallet, they can begin to build a financial profile and access services that were previously out of reach,” Mothibi concluded.

The collaboration will continue to evolve in response to customer needs, with a focus on secure, app-based features that support South Africa’s growing digital ecosystem.