Women Lead South Africa’s Digital Inclusion Push

M-KOPA South Africa’s inaugural Impact Report offers a clear insight into how digital access is evolving in the country, with women emerging as key drivers of both adoption and income generation.

Since entering the South African market in 2023, the company has reached more than 105,000 customers and unlocked over R370 million in credit through its flexible smartphone financing model. Designed for consumers excluded from traditional credit systems, the model removes the need for collateral or formal proof of income, lowering barriers to both digital and financial inclusion.

The report highlights a notable trend: women are leading uptake. They account for 49% of M-KOPA’s customer base in South Africa, the highest share across all its markets, with 36% identified as first-time smartphone users, compared to 24% of men. Among female customers, 88% report an improved quality of life.

The shift extends beyond access. Women are also dominating the company’s agent network, making up 84% of its 1,300 sales agents locally, a significant increase from 49% the previous year. For many, the opportunity represents a first step into the workforce, with more than 60% of agents reporting it as their first income-generating role and 73% indicating increased earnings.

“Reaching over 100,000 customers is more than a milestone. It represents 100,000 pathways into the digital economy,” says Cameron Perumal, General Manager of M-KOPA South Africa.

“South Africa’s unemployment crisis demands inclusive solutions, and when people gain access to fair and flexible financing, they use it to unlock income, stability and opportunity.”

The findings point to a broader structural gap. According to the GSMA, the cost of a basic smartphone in sub-Saharan Africa can equate to nearly a full month’s income for low earners, while the majority of adults have never accessed formal credit. In South Africa, high unemployment continues to amplify these barriers.

By enabling access to smartphones, the model is also unlocking economic participation. Across its customer base, 64% report using their devices to generate income, while 35% say they are earning more as a result. For small business owners and informal traders, the smartphone has become a central tool for communication, marketing and transactions.

This aligns with broader national priorities around digital inclusion, including efforts to close the mobile internet gender gap and expand equitable access to connectivity.

Beyond its customer base, M-KOPA’s local economic contribution is also growing. In 2024, the company contributed more than R24 million in tax revenue and R155.5 million in local procurement, while employing 155 people, over half of whom are women.

As the company expands across all nine provinces, the report positions digital access not just as a technology issue, but as a pathway to economic participation, particularly for women who remain disproportionately excluded from traditional financial systems.