Shoprite Group is set to revolutionise South Africa's informal economy by acquiring a majority stake in R&A Cellular, aiming to enhance access to vital financial services for communities across the nation.
Image: Independent Newspapers Archives
Shoprite Group is set to revolutionise South Africa's informal economy by acquiring a majority stake in R&A Cellular, aiming to enhance access to vital financial services for communities across the nation.
Image: Supplied
The Shoprite Group is taking steps to strengthen financial services access in South Africa’s townships and peri‑urban areas by acquiring a majority stake in R&A Cellular, the retailer announced on Monday, subject to regulatory approval.
The move is aimed at meeting customers “where they already live, shop and transact,” the Group said, by expanding essential financial and digital services through trusted community‑based retailers, including spaza shops and other informal merchants.
R&A Cellular operates a point‑of‑sale platform that allows informal retailers to sell prepaid airtime and electricity, gaming products, and accept card payments - turning these small shops into vital access points for everyday services.
“This partnership marks a transformational moment for R&A Cellular. By aligning with the Shoprite Group, we are combining deep retail scale with our technology and prepaid expertise to accelerate financial inclusion and unlock greater value for traders and communities across South Africa. Together, we are building a more accessible, digitally enabled retail ecosystem,” said Rui Campos, Founder and CEO of R&A Cellular.
Jean Olivier, General Manager for Financial Services at Shoprite, added: “R&A Cellular has built a sound business with a strong management team and a platform that is well regarded in the market. By combining our scale in everyday financial services with R&A Cellular’s established presence in the informal retail space, we are creating a practical way to expand access to essential services, lower barriers to participation and support the communities that rely on informal retailers every day.”
For consumers, the integration of Shoprite’s financial and value-added services into R&A Cellular’s platform means more daily transactions can be completed closer to home, reducing travel time and costs. Informal retailers also benefit from access to a wider range of services, helping improve cash-flow management, reduce reliance on cash, and strengthen their role as essential service providers in their communities.
The acquisition builds on an existing relationship, with R&A Cellular already facilitating the sale of Shoprite vouchers through its point-of-sale devices.
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