VCL Marketing and Brand Manager Ketsia Matsela, Acting MD Johnny Dos Santos, Manager M-Pesa Eco-system Dev Tsepo Thabisi with Mukuru Lead Business Developer Oliver O’ Brien and Jon Luis Burke
Rethabile Pitso
VODACOM Lesotho (VCL) has partnered with South African company, Mukuru, in a facility that enables Basotho in the neighbouring country to send money into a local M-Pesa account.
VCL Acting Managing Director, Johnny Dos Santos, made the announcement yesterday during a media briefing in Maseru which was also attended by Mukuru representatives.
Mr Dos Santos said the innovation would provide greater security and convenience to VCL customers and Basotho at large and cut the time and cost people remote areas previously incurred to collect funds.
“A lot of Basotho working in South Africa remit money home using informal means such as sending through other people. Such methods are not safe hence our decision to partner with Mukuru,” he said.
“The purpose of the service is to enable Basotho to send money from South Africa directly into an M-Pesa account in Lesotho conveniently and in a safe manner. At Vodacom, we continually develop new products to ensure the financial inclusion of all Basotho.”
On his part, Mukuru Lead Business Developer Oliver O’Brien said in order to send money, a prospective user in South Africa would first need to register with the remittance company.
“This can be done using a valid proof of identity document. From then on, the sender uses their mobile phone to create an order with Mukuru by dialing *130*567# on their mobile phone and no airtime is needed,” he said.
“Payment for the order can be made at any major retailer such as Lewis, Pick n Pay, Shoprite, Checkers, Spar and Pep stores in South Africa. We have about 5 000 of these outlets already providing the service.”
Mr O’Brien said once payment is received, the money would be instantly transferred to the recipient’s M-Pesa account in Lesotho.
“When a payment is made, a reference number will be provided to the payee and as soon as the transaction is made, an SMS is sent to the recipient in Lesotho,” he said.
“The daily transfer limit is R3 000, while the monthly limit is R10 000. We can, however, exceed these limits if the sender produces proof that their income is more than that amount.”
