Kazang

What Kazang does

Kazang is a South Africa-headquartered fintech division of Main Street 1723 (Pty) Ltd, ultimately owned by Nasdaq- and JSE-listed Lesaka Technologies. It provides prepaid value-added services (VAS) and card-acquiring infrastructure to micro-merchants and informal traders — primarily spaza shops, taverns, wholesalers, and informal retailers — in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, and Zambia. The core technology stack is the Timpa X and Timpa Pro Android POS terminals (4G/LTE, dual SIM, magstripe readers) and a complementary Android mobile app, through which vendors sell prepaid airtime, data, electricity, bill payments, gaming vouchers, money transfers, and international top-ups while also accepting SASSA, Visa, and Mastercard payments.

The product portfolio extends well beyond VAS into adjacent financial services: Kazang Pay for card acceptance, Kazang Wallet for digital fund management, Kazang Capital (with GoTyme Bank) for working-capital funding up to R2.5 million within 24 hours, Kazang Lending for short-tenor cash advances, Kazang Vaults (Connectr N3K and N10K devices) for automated cash management, Kazang Insights for analytics, Kazang Rewards for vendor loyalty, and Kazang Corporate Integration for bulk B2B sales. Revenue is generated predominantly through transaction commissions on prepaid VAS and card processing, supplemented by recurring cash-vault rental (volume-based monthly), supplier-payment fees, and revenue-share on bank-partnered lending. Distribution combines a direct field-sales motion (sales agents and contact centre onboarding), a self-serve mobile app, and strategic bank and telco partnerships (TymeBank, GoTyme Bank, MTC Maris, Standard Bank, Mukuru, MTN MoMo).

At scale the platform supports 90,000+ active devices across four countries, processes roughly 3 million transactions daily (1.5 million in South Africa alone), and clears R2 billion per month in transaction value. Card-based transactions have grown from 0% to 42% of volume between 2021 and 2023, and the company employs 501–1,000 staff across 13 office locations. The strategic positioning is financial inclusion in informal economies via a multi-vertical, partner-orchestrated fintech platform wrapped around physical distribution.

Name

Kazang

Legal name

Main Street 1723 (Proprietary) Limited

Website

https://kazang.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Kazang is a South African fintech division of Lesaka Technologies that provides prepaid value-added services, card acceptance, lending, and cash management to micro-merchants and informal traders across South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, and Zambia via a 90,000+ device network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fintech Payment Services

NAICS

Casinos (except Casino Hotels) (713210), Casinos (except Casino Hotels) (71321)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Mobile POS (mPOS) Devices & Handheld Terminals (HDACAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Payment Processing & PSPs (Card, Wallets, Carrier Billing) (MPAFAJAA), Payments Orchestration, Wallets & Alternative Payments Enablement (MPAEAKAH), Player Account Management (PAM), CRM & Loyalty Platforms (MPAEAKAF)

Keywords

• Prepaid value-added services
• Mobile point-of-sale
• Card payment acceptance
• Micro-merchant fintech
• Cash management solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Cape Town

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices13 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Transaction Commission: Vendors earn commission on every transaction processed through Kazang POS devices or app. Commission varies from product to product and provider to provider. This is the primary revenue driver for both Kazang and its vendor network.
2. Card Payment Processing: Kazang Pay enables card acceptance with transaction fees. Free terminal hardware with no monthly rental for small retailers meeting modest transaction threshold each month, with attractive transaction fees for card processing.
3. Cash Vault Rental: Rental and service fees for Connectr automated cash vaults based on Base Transaction Volume. Monthly rental calculated based on previous month's cash deposit volumes. Subject to annual CPI increase.
4. Business Funding (Kazang Capital): In partnership with GoTyme Bank, provides instant business funding within 24 hours. Revenue generated through partnership with GoTyme Bank for loan disbursement and repayment processing.
5. Supplier Payment Service: Transaction fee charged to suppliers for processing cashless payment instructions from vendors. Fee per transaction processed, subject to annual CPI escalation.
6. Corporate Integration/Bulk Sales: Third parties such as retail chains and large corporate employers purchase products and services in bulk to resell to customers or employees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Kazang operates a prepaid value-added services (VAS) distribution and card acquiring platform serving micro-merchants and informal traders across South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, and Zambia. Vendors use proprietary Android POS devices (Timpa X and Timpa Pro) or the Kazang mobile app to sell prepaid airtime, electricity, data, bill payments, gaming vouchers, money transfers, and to accept card payments. The platform processes approximately 3 million transactions daily across 90,000+ active devices and is augmented by add-on financial services including Kazang Pay card acceptance, Kazang Wallet digital wallet, Kazang Capital business funding, Kazang Lending cash advances, Kazang Vaults cash management, and Kazang Insights analytics.

Product overview

Kazang is a prepaid value-added services (VAS) and card acquiring fintech platform operating in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, and Zambia. The core offering consists of POS devices (Timpa X and Timpa Pro) and a mobile Android app that enable micro-merchants in informal markets to sell prepaid products (airtime, data, electricity, bill payments, gaming, lottery, money transfers) and accept card payments. The platform is built on a modular architecture with multiple add-on services: Kazang Pay enables card acceptance; Kazang Wallet provides digital fund management; Kazang Capital (with GoTyme Bank) offers business funding; Kazang Lending provides cash advances; Kazang Vaults offers automated cash management via Connectr devices; Kazang Insights delivers analytics; Kazang Corporate Integration serves B2B bulk buyers; and Kazang Rewards enables vendor loyalty programs. The platform processes over 1.5-3 million transactions daily through 68,000-90,000 active devices.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kazang Pay: Card acceptance solution allowing micro-merchants to accept SASSA, Visa and Mastercard debit and credit cards via Timpa X POS device.
• Kazang Capital
• Kazang Insights
• Kazang Lending
• Kazang Vaults
• Kazang Superwallet
• Kazang Rewards
• Kazang Corporate Integration
• Touchsides

Products and services

• Kazang POS Devices (Timpa X and Timpa Pro) Proprietary Android POS hardware for micro-merchants. Timpa X is an all-in-one touchscreen device with 4G/LTE, dual SIM, and built-in magstripe reader that handles prepaid VAS vending and card acceptance. Timpa Pro is a 15-inch HD touchscreen model with 4G, Wi-Fi, and an integrated high-speed printer designed for higher-volume retail environments. Devices are provided free to qualifying small retailers meeting a modest monthly transaction threshold.
• Kazang Mobile App Android application available on Google Play Store that enables vendors to sell prepaid airtime, data, electricity, bill payments, gaming, and international top-ups from their own smartphone. Users register with name, surname, and South African cellphone number, then complete onboarding via the Kazang contact centre.
• Kazang Pay Card acceptance service integrated into Kazang POS devices and the mobile app, allowing vendors to accept SASSA, Visa, and Mastercard debit and credit cards. Approved transactions are instantly credited to the vendor's Kazang Wallet. Free terminal hardware is offered to small retailers meeting a transaction threshold, with attractive per-transaction fees on processed card volume.
• Kazang Capital Business funding service offered in partnership with GoTyme Bank that provides qualifying Kazang vendors with an instant capital injection of up to R2.5 million within 24 hours based on their POS transaction volumes. No paperwork or hidden fees are required; repayment is deducted automatically as the vendor earns.
• Kazang Lending Cash advance facility providing a 3-day trading facility for value-added services sales, extended via machine learning algorithms that assess merchant creditworthiness based on trading history. Enables uninterrupted prepaid product trading at the push of a button.
• Kazang Vaults (Connectr) Automated cash management solution offering Connectr cash vault hardware (N3K for supermarkets and general retailers, N10K for larger retailers and wholesalers) for secure cash storage. Deposited cash is instantly credited to the merchant's Kazang Wallet, integrates with cash-in-transit services, and allows the operator to act as a top-up site for surrounding vendors. Rental and service fees are calculated monthly based on Base Transaction Volume with annual CPI escalation.
• Kazang Insights Analytics and predictive solutions service that transforms raw transaction data from the Kazang network into actionable insights for brands and businesses targeting South Africa's informal market. Enables clients to understand consumer behaviour, optimise distribution, and connect with previously untapped market segments.
• Kazang Rewards Vendor-facing loyalty and rewards platform integrated into the Kazang POS device that enables consumer brands to engage micro-merchants through rewards, loyalty programmes, and engagement initiatives. Provides a channel for brands to reach and activate the informal merchant network.
• Kazang Corporate Integration B2B offering enabling retail chains and large corporate employers to purchase Kazang prepaid products and services in bulk for resale to their own customers or for distribution to employees as part of staff benefits or VAS programmes.
• Prepaid VAS Distribution Platform Core distribution platform that aggregates prepaid value-added services which vendors sell to end consumers through Kazang POS devices or the mobile app. Categories include prepaid airtime and data for Vodacom, MTN, Cell C, Telkom, Lycamobile, RINGAS, and EasyLoad; prepaid electricity for Eskom and major municipalities; international airtime to 160+ countries; 600+ bill payment options via EasyPay and Pay@; gaming vouchers for Hollywoodbets, Betway, Supabets, OTT, BluVoucher, LottoStar, TabGold, and Marshalls; lottery tickets and payouts; local money transfers via MTN MoMo and Standard Bank Instant Money; international transfers through Mukuru, SasaiRemit, Sikhona, MamaMoney, and HelloPaisa; entertainment vouchers for Uber, PlayStation, Nando's, Makro, Roblox, Steam, and BabyCity; Wi-Fi vouchers for TooMuchWifi and iKeja; and cashless supplier payments to distributors including Coca-Cola, Clover, BAT, Truda, Devland, Albatross Foods, and Darling Creamery.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3 million transactions processed daily across network
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability1 record

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• MTC MariscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 February 2026Strategic partnership to expand mobile money services across Namibia. Kazang brings national network of over 5,500 agents enabling MTC Maris to extend presence into urban centers, informal settlements, and remote rural areas. Partnership designed to enhance financial inclusion nationwide, particularly in regions traditionally underserved by formal banking channels.
• TymeBankcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 November 2025Partnership provides working capital advances to licensed taverns and liquor outlets in South Africa. Fintech solution utilizes digital transaction data from Kazang POS devices to assess merchants' affordability and disburses funds within 24 hours. Enables informal merchants to access growth capital based on trading history.
• OzowsupportingTechnology or IntegrationOzow Instant EFT integration allows vendors to top up their Kazang Wallet without leaving their shop to go to a bank. Convenient instant payment method.
• Standard BanksupportingTechnology or IntegrationStandard Bank Instant Money redemptions available through Kazang devices. Vendors can process Standard Bank money transfers and cash-ins/cash-outs.
• MTNsupportingTechnology or IntegrationMTN MoMo cash-in and cash-out services available through Kazang devices. Partnership enables mobile money services in South Africa and Zambia.
• MukurusupportingTechnology or IntegrationInternational money transfer service available through Kazang. Accept payments for money sending orders. Available in South Africa, Botswana, and Zambia.
• Vodacom, MTN, Cell C, TelkomsupportingTechnology or IntegrationAirtime and data products for all major South African mobile networks. Vendors can sell airtime vouchers and top-ups across networks from single device.
• EasyPay and Pay@supportingTechnology or IntegrationBill payment aggregators enabling 600+ bill payment options through Kazang devices. Includes traffic fines, utilities, entertainment, insurance, and more.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Capitec: Largest SA digital bank by customer count, deeply penetrated in lower-income and informal segments. A broad incumbent competing with Kazang's Kazang Pay and Kazang Capital on merchant banking and credit.
• MTN MoMo: Pan-African mobile money platform by MTN operating agent networks across SA, Zambia and beyond. Overlaps Kazang's airtime, cash-in/cash-out and merchant payment flows at much larger scale, leveraging MTN's subscriber base.
• TymeBank: South African digital bank serving mass-market and informal customers. Both partner with Kazang (for working capital and business funding) and increasingly compete for the same informal-merchant primary-banking relationship.
• Interswitch: West Africa-rooted pan-African digital payments and commerce platform (owner of Quickteller, Verve). Comparable to Kazang in delivering agent-led payments, card acceptance and bill payments at scale across multiple African markets.
• Vodacom M-Pesa: SA mobile money service from Vodacom with a large agent base for cash-in/cash-out and merchant payments. Comparable to Kazang's prepaid vending and money transfer rails, with overlapping informal-merchant customers.

Direct peers

• Hello Paisa: SA remittance and prepaid services provider with an agent footprint in township and rural areas. Listed as a Kazang integration partner and a directly comparable last-mile prepaid VAS distributor.
• MFS Africa (Onafriq): Pan-African payments orchestration and agent network platform. Directly comparable to Kazang in connecting mobile wallets, prepaid products and money transfer via a continent-wide agent network across multiple African countries.
• MamaMoney: SA-registered remittance fintech with agent network across townships and informal settlements. Competes head-to-head with Kazang on international money transfers, bill payments and prepaid distribution in the same micro-merchant channel.
• Mukuru: South Africa and SADC-focused remittance and airtime platform operating its own agent and app network. Overlaps Kazang's international money transfer, prepaid airtime and informal-merchant distribution in the same customer base.

Regional players

• Netcash (formerly Sage Pay): South African payments processor offering EFT, debit order and card acceptance to SMEs. Comparable to Kazang Pay in serving the small-merchant card acceptance and cash management needs, with overlapping SMB customer base.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/KazangAfrica
• Facebookfacebook.com/KazangAfrica
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kazang-prepaid
• Instagraminstagram.com/kazang_africa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kazang