Western Union and Sasai Fintech launch mobile money transfer app in South Africa

Western Union and Sasai Fintech, a subsidiary of Cassava Technologies, have announced the launch of a new mobile app for international money transfers tailored to the needs of consumers in South Africa. The app is designed to meet the rapidly changing needs of an increasingly connected and mobile population, offering a seamless and reliable way to send money abroad, anywhere, anytime.

“South Africa is home to a growing population of digitally savvy consumers, many of whom have deep international connections and are looking for ways to send money abroad flexibly and securely. We are therefore delighted that, through our partnership with Sasai Fintech, we can leverage the power of our global network to connect consumers in South Africa to the world, opening up new opportunities and helping communities and families thrive in an increasingly globalized economy." – Mohamed Touhami el Ouazzani, Director, Western Union Africa

“South Africa is home to a growing population of digitally savvy consumers, many of whom have deep international connections and are looking for ways to send money abroad flexibly and securely. We are therefore delighted that, through our partnership with Sasai Fintech, we can leverage the power of our global network to connect South African consumers to the world, opening up new opportunities and helping communities and families thrive in an increasingly globalized economy."

– Mohamed Touhami el Ouazzani, dyrektor Western Union Africa

This strategic partnership combines Western Union's global network spanning 200 countries and territories with Sasai Fintech's cutting-edge Payments-as-a-Service (PaaS) technology—a fully integrated, comprehensive money transfer platform that includes both the technological infrastructure and the necessary licenses. Customers can transfer funds to billions of bank accounts and wallets worldwide or receive cash at hundreds of thousands of retail locations abroad. They can send money through Sasai's co-branded service in partnership with Western Union, using a variety of convenient funding options that include Sasai's retail network of over 150,000 points of sale, debit or credit cards, and electronic bank account transfers.

"Our partnership with Western Union accelerates financial inclusion and delivers real value to Africans living outside the continent and their families across the continent. With our regulated assets, integrated technology platform, super app platform, and innovations such as stablecoins, we are redefining Africa's payment infrastructure." – Darlington Mandivenga, Chief Executive Officer of Financial Technology and Digital Platforms, Cassava Technologies

"Our partnership with Western Union accelerates financial inclusion and delivers real value to Africans living outside the continent and their families across the continent. With our regulated assets, integrated technology solutions, super app platform, and innovations such as stablecoins, we are redefining the payment infrastructure in Africa."

– Darlington Mandivenga, Chief Technology Officer for Financial Technology and Digital Platforms, Cassava Technologies

South Africa is one of the countries with the highest rates of digital activity among the population in Africa. According to a 2023 nationwide household survey, nearly 80% of households have access to the Internet, and nearly 73% use it via mobile devices. Market data shows that in 2024, remittances paid out exceeded $1 billion.

The new mobile app is now available for download on Android and iOS smartphones. It only takes a few clicks to register, verify your identity, and start sending money around the world.