Teboho Twala, founder of the fintech startup ZAKHAA, understands the challenges faced by small businesses, particularly in townships. “I realized that small businesses lose billions of rands yearly in unpaid deferred payments,” Twala explains. “People promise to pay later, but often don’t, leaving businesses with no collateral and relying solely on trust. There’s a need to formalize this relationship seamlessly and cost-effectively.” This realization led to the creation of ZAKHAA, a unique payment system designed to address this very issue.
ZAKHAA’s mission is to resolve cash flow challenges for small businesses, including schools. “We believe that by digitizing and enabling businesses to have credible trading records, they can access short-term funding from traditional lenders,” Twala states. “This will boost cash flow, support growth, and ultimately lead to job creation.”
While expansion to other African and Middle Eastern markets is on the horizon, ZAKHAA’s immediate focus is on South Africa. “We want South Africa to be a benchmark,” Twala says. “Clients and customers believe our solution is a game changer,” Twala reports. “We’ve met with major banks, and they’ve all given it a thumbs up, recognizing its potential for financial inclusion.”
In March 2025, ZAKHAA will launch a program offering 200 township merchants free ZAKHAA devices. This initiative complements ZAKHAA’s broader commitment to empowering township businesses. They are launching a significant initiative to support 200 SMEs in retail, wholesale, and spaza shops across Gauteng’s five districts: Ekurhuleni, City of Johannesburg, City of Tshwane, Sedibeng, and West Rand. The program includes free POS devices and training in business skills development (financial literacy, market access, funding access) and digitization (financial and economic inclusivity, sales and stock management).
ZAKHAA offers the following solutions:
• ZAKHAA Payments Device: Accept card payments with a low 2.5% plus VAT transaction fee.
• ZAKHAA FlexiPay: Offer flexible payment options to customers, allowing them to pay in instalments.
• ZAKHAA Smart Transact: Allows for the seamless management of stock, generation of instant quotes, and keeping tabs on every transaction.
• ZAKHAA FlexiPay for Landlords: Streamline rental collection through debit orders.
• ZAKHAA FlexiPay for Schools: Facilitate school fee payments through flexible arrangements.
ZAKHAA’s product offerings also include ZAKHAA
Smart Transact and ZAKHAA FlexiPay for Landlords.
With its innovative approach and commitment to financial inclusion, ZAKHAA is poised to transform the landscape for small businesses in South Africa and beyond.
Contact Details:
For more information about ZAKHAA and its services, please contact us:
•Email:
•Phone/WhatsApp:
072 655 0132
Website: www.zakhaa.com
