Nearly two decades ago, Pay@ set out to solve a simple but important challenge; making it easier for South Africans to pay for essential services, regardless of whether they had access to traditional banking channels or not.

Launched in 2007 as South Africa's first real-time payment validation platform, Pay@ helped bridge the gap between the banked and unbanked. What began as a bill payments solution focused on accessibility has grown into a trusted payment platform processing payments for multiple services across more than 35 different payment channels, including retailers, banking apps, telcos, vouchers, and other digital channels, for organisations and consumers across the spectrum throughout Southern Africa.

Now, we're excited about the next chapter of that journey - Pay@ as part of Araxi, a JSE-listed South African fintech group, focused on payments solutions, infrastructure, enterprise software solutions, and digital financial services.

What we’re excited about

For Pay@, joining Araxi brings together complementary strengths. Each business within the Araxi Group plays a distinct role in the payments and technology ecosystem. By being part of the Araxi Group Pay@ gains access to expanded technology capabilities, cloud infrastructure capabilities, and fintech expertise. This will enable us to accelerate innovation, broaden our solutions, and create even greater value for customers and partners. There are also strong synergies with other payments businesses within the Group.

Pay@ ownership is now 100% South African, with a level 4 BBBEE profile, supported by long-term strategic shareholders committed to building technology that expands access, delivers value and drives innovation.

Building on a shared purpose

While our ownership structure has evolved, our purpose remains unchanged: simplifying payments and improving access for the people and businesses that rely on them every day.

The partnership between Pay@ and Araxi creates a stronger platform for growth, innovation, and scale. Together, we are well positioned to meet the evolving needs of the payments ecosystem.

Andrew Hardie, CEO of Pay@:

"At Pay@, we've always focused on making payments simpler, more accessible, and more reliable for the organisations and consumers who rely on us every day. Joining Araxi gives us the scale, technology, and expertise to build on that foundation, accelerate innovation, and deliver even more value to our customers and partners. We're excited about what this means for the future of payments in South Africa and the opportunities it creates for everyone we serve."

Brad Sacks, CEO of Araxi Limited:

"Pay@ has demonstrated an ability to adapt to a changing market and meet its customers where they are.  It is ubiquitous across the country with solutions tailored to customers’ needs.  Solutions help bridge the gap between those that live in a cash first environment and the world around them that has migrated to a digital ecosystem.  Pay@’s solutions range from physical stores to digital apps and ecommerce engagement capabilities too.  Pay@ answers each user’s need identically, with dignity and without prejudice.  Its success is evidenced by having processed transaction totalling more than R61 billion last year with a 99% efficacy rate.  I can confirm that the Araxi team is equally excited by the prospects of what we can do together."