Community digitalisation

A pilot project in Hammanskraal and Tembisa

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Cash attracts criminals

Carrying money makes you an easy target for robbers, which can lead to stress because of fear and financial loss.

Fire can easily destroy cash

People can lose hard-earned money in fires, making recovery difficult.

It’s hard to save cash

If there's a crisis or emergency, accessing money quickly can be a struggle, which makes it hard to cope with urgent needs.

Cash cannot create a financial record

To show how well you manage money, you need to be able to prove it through statements. Digital payments can do this for you – automatically.

About Us

Empowering communities through digitalisation

About community digitalisation

FinMark Trust is working with the World Bank and other partners to create a functional digital economy in townships. Starting with Tembisa and Hammanskraal, we want to find ways for everyone to use digital payments in these communities more easily. This includes connecting local payments with the wider financial system. Through this community digitalisation pilot project, we aim to prove these benefits:

  • Better safety: no need to carry cash, reducing the risk of theft, fire and threats
  • Convenience: shop, pay and move freely without relying on cash
  • Cost savings: avoid travel expenses to banks, saving both time and money.

We’re involving all community members, from people who receive social grants to local businesses. We want to make sure that digital payments benefit the community by identifying the needs in Tembisa and Hammanskraal.

About FinMark Trust

FinMark Trust is a non-profit organisation that works to help people in communities have better access to financial services. We study the issues that make it hard for people to use banks and financial services, share our findings with government and financial service providers, and help find solutions for people with limited means to access these services. Our role is to make sure that financial services benefit communities for inclusive economic development.

    Mission
  • To make financial markets work for low-income and vulnerable people by promoting financial inclusion and inclusive growth
    • Purpose
  • Solving challenges that impact livelihoods in SADC by developing financial markets for the real economy
    • Vision
  • A world in which all people can use affordable, quality financial services to improve their lives

View the video below on the impact FinMark Trust has made over the last few years.

The pilot project

Empowering communities through digitalisation

Community digitalisation refers to using technology to improve the lives and livelihoods of people in communities. Our focus for this pilot project is on digital payments, and how this can help the community grow in Tembisa and Hammanskraal.

Our goal is to understand what people need, what they think about digital payments, and what problems they face using it. This information will help those involved to determine the kind of services that are needed to help people and business owners buy and sell without needing cash. We will also look at what kind of digital financial services are already available in the community to close the gap between what there is and what is needed.

In summary, we will be:

  • Looking at the possibility of community members using digital payments for their day-to-day needs
  • Understanding the challenges that people in communities face when trying to use digital payments
  • Determining the challenges that informal and formal business owners face when trying to offer the option of digital payments for goods and services.

FinMark Trusts impact over 20 years

Past and present leaders of FinMark Trust discuss our beginnings, our impact and our plans to continue encouraging financial markets to work for the poor

View

Our Team

We have passionate people behind this project. Our team is committed to helping the communities improve livelihoods for local businesses and people using digital payments.

Nombuso Gwamanda

Community coordinator: Tembisa

Nombuso Gwamanda is a dynamic female leader from the vibrant community of Tembisa, where she was born and raised. Currently pursuing a degree in entrepreneurship at the University of Johannesburg, Nombuso also serves as the dedicated Community Coordinator in Tembisa for the Community Digitalisation Project, an important initiative aimed at fostering financial inclusion in partnership with Finmark Trust.

Keitumetse Molefe

Community coordinator: Hammanskraal

Born and raised in Hammanskraal, Keitumetse is a dedicated community coordinator with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. Experienced in coordinating diverse activities, she excels in project planning and implementation. Keitumetse provides excellent customer service, ensuring satisfaction by delivering accurate information and resolving issues promptly. Committed to teamwork, diversity and inclusion, she brings creativity, diligence and innovation to the project.

Contact

If you have any questions, feedback or suggestions, please send them to us. Please fill in the contact form below.

Tembisa:

tembisa@finmark.org.za


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Hammanskraal:

hammanskraal@finmark.org.za


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