Hopolang Mokhopi
FINANCIAL services platform, Mukuru, has implored Basotho in the diaspora to use its safe mobile money transfer platform, when sending money back home, to avoid getting robbed of their hard-earned cash.
The Mukuru platform has grown in popularity over the years and has become a major platform for the African diaspora to transfer money to loved ones back in their countries.
The company’s representatives participated at an event at a major mine in South Africa’s Free State province on Sunday. The event was organized by Lesotho’s High Commission in South Africa to commemorate the country’s bicentennial celebrations and Moshoeshoe Day which is usually marked every 11 March.
Also in attendance were representatives from Standard Bank, which co-sponsored the event, with Mukuru.
Speaking at the event, the Consul General of Lesotho in Johannesburg, Likhapha Seliane, said they chose to celebrate Moshoeshoe’s Day in Welkom because a majority of Basotho who have migrated to South Africa resided and worked there. More than 100 000 Basotho lived in Welkom in 1987 but the figure had declined to about 40 000 in 2009. It was now around 4 000 due to retrenchments and closure of mines.
The event was held at a mine owned by the Harmony group, Masimong Shaft Five, in Welkom.
The Mukuru team used the event to showcase the company’s products including the money transfer service and life cover.
Mukuru Country Manager, ‘Maleseli Mohapinyane, said a sizeable number of Basotho residing in South Africa lacked financial literacy, hence they sometimes got cheated out of their monies when trying to cater for their loved ones back home. Even though Mukuru was a safe way for them to send money, they probably did not understand how it worked. Mukuru had thus decided to sensitize them on its products.
Ms Mohapinyane said Mukuru’s main mandate was to assist individuals in sending and receiving money from family and friends around the world. Once a person became a registered member of Mukuru, she also had access to Mukuru’s funeral cover to help with repatriation issues in the event of death.
“This is our way of supporting Basotho plying their trades in South Africa. We realised that some have been cheated because they would not know anything about these micro financial services,” said Ms Mohapinyane.
“We work collaboratively with Mukuru SA though we have our own products in Lesotho.
“Some lament our charges saying that they are too expensive, yet they are being manipulated by their close friends and family who demand even higher charges while helping them send money home.”
She urged Basotho to stop seeking help from people and use the modern electronic platforms to avoid getting robbed of their monies.
She said registering with Mukuru was easy as it only required a national identity or passport number.
“Mukuru guarantees fast, secure and cost-effective money transfers to your loved ones,” she said.
Standard Lesotho Bank (SLB) Commercial Manager, Keketso Makara, said they felt honoured to be part of celebrations which united Basotho in the diaspora.
“As SLB, we are interested in reaching wherever Basotho are. This helps in extending our customer base from those in Lesotho to those living in South Africa,” said Mr Makara.
He said they were at the event to also earn about Basotho’s needs so they could provide tailor made products to address the needs of the disapora.
“Our expectation is that their hard-earned money be saved in Lesotho to provide for their families and contribute to our economy,” Mr Makara said.
Mr Seliane said they commemorated Moshoeshoe’s day every year but this year they had decided to collaborate with a Basotho group based in South Africa, known as Mara a Basotho.
“Mara a Basotho usually hold Moshoeshoe’s day celebration at Katlehong Hunter’s Field Stadium (in Welkom). Next year, we will be in Klerksdorp or Rustenburg to make sure that Basotho in North West are also part of the celebrations and we reach out to all Basotho in the diaspora.”
