By Mpho Sadiki, Managing Director, Merchant Services, Africa at Network International and Payfast by Network
South Africa is reaching a tipping point in digital payments. Digital wallets are becoming a more common way for consumers to pay, both online and in-store.
The conversation around payments in South Africa has shifted. The question is no longer whether consumers will adopt digital wallets, but how quickly businesses can keep up with changing payment behaviour.
Across the country, digital wallets have become a familiar part of everyday shopping. In a mobile-first society, this shift feels natural. Digital wallets are increasingly integrated into how consumers shop and pay.
Convenient, secure and seamless
Digital wallet adoption is being driven by changing consumer behaviour. Consumers now place a high value on speed and security when making payments. Convenience also plays a major role, especially on mobile devices, where long checkout processes often lead to abandoned purchases.
According to the 2025 State of Pay report, 66% of consumers say security and data encryption are the most important factors when deciding where to shop online. Digital wallets help meet these expectations by offering secure and seamless payment experiences.
South Africans are becoming more comfortable using digital wallets. Growing smartphone usage and tap-to-pay experiences are helping drive wider digital wallet adoption.
The numbers behind digital wallet growth
At Payfast by Network, we are seeing growing use of digital wallets such as Google Pay, Apple Pay and Samsung Pay. Payfast’s internal data shows that total transaction value processed through digital wallets grew by nearly 155% between 1 January and 18 May 2026, compared to the same period in 2025, signalling not just higher spend, but more frequent everyday use.
Digital wallets now account for just over 8% of total digital payment value processed, a meaningful and growing share of the market. This growth is being driven across a diverse range of sectors, from retail and fashion to travel, education and on-demand services, reinforcing the role digital wallets now play in everyday commerce.
Taken together, these trends reveal that South Africa has moved beyond experimentation. Digital wallets are now a cornerstone of everyday payments.
Unlocking real value, one payment at a time
Many businesses used to see digital wallets as simply an additional payment option. That has changed as businesses realise digital wallets help them unlock a competitive advantage.
Digital wallets enable merchants to deliver faster and smoother checkout experiences, particularly on mobile devices where speed and seamlessness matter most.
Additionally, digital wallets address key security concerns South Africans may have in terms of how they pay. Platforms deploy measures such as end-to-end encryption and biometric authentication to ensure that payments remain secure, offering stronger protection than many traditional payment methods.
Over time, digital wallets have become an expectation. They are now a minimum requirement for participating in the digital economy. This shift reflects a deeper change in how South Africans choose to pay, shop and engage in a digital-first economy. For South African merchants, this is no longer a technology decision. It is a growth decision.
At Payfast, our focus is on helping South African businesses enable digital wallets quickly and seamlessly so they can meet changing consumer expectations without increasing operational complexity.
