Vodacom South Africa and Nedbank have launched the M-Pesa money transfer service, developed by the Vodafone Group. M-Pesa, already available in Kenya, Tanzania and Afghanistan, allows users to transfer money from person to person using a mobile phone. At outlets such as retail stores, spazas, community service containers and Nedbank branches, customers can register for a M-Pesa account, load money on their account and withdraw cash. Once customers have money in their M-Pesa account, they can send it to any other mobile phone in South Africa. They may also choose to buy airtime or transfer the money to another person. Only Vodacom customers can send M-Pesa but anyone with a mobile phone can receive it. Distributors include PEP Stores, the Pick n Pay Group including Boxer stores, Massmart including Game and Masscash, Edcon's Edgars, CNA, Jet outlets, GloCell and Altech Autopage. Blue Label and Smart Call are also recruiting small and medium-sized outlets across the country including in many rural areas. At launch M-Pesa is offering basic money transfers, but Nedbank and Vodacom are in the process of implementing additional services such as paying bills and buying goods. Customers access their accounts using a four-digit PIN code. Deposits are free, while registered customers pay a fee of ZAR 6 for withdrawals of ZAR 10 to 1,000 and ZAR 10 for ZAR 1,000 to 5,000. Cash transfers cost ZAR 2.45 to registered customers and ZAR 10-15 to unregistered customers, for amounts of ZAR to 5,000.
