Cassava Technologies, a global technology leader of African heritage, has entered into a strategic partnership with remittance giant Western Union to offer international money transfers directly to users in South Africa.
The collaboration targets both South Africans living at home and those in the diaspora, strengthening access to fast and reliable cross-border payment services.
Darlington Mandivenga, CEO of Fintech and Digital Platforms at Cassava Technologies, noted that the partnership is designed to better support Africans in the diaspora and their families across the continent.
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Through a co-branded Sasai and Western Union service, customers will be able to send money to bank accounts and digital wallets worldwide or arrange cash pickups at retail locations abroad.
The service will leverage Sasai’s extensive retail footprint of more than 150,000 outlets, alongside funding options such as debit and credit cards and electronic bank transfers. By combining Western Union’s vast network spanning over 200 countries and territories with Sasai’s Payments-as-a-Service platform, the partnership integrates global reach with local infrastructure and regulatory capabilities.
South Africa remains one of the most important remittance corridors in Africa, both as a sender and receiver of cross-border funds. Market research estimates that the country’s remittance and cross-border transfers market was valued at approximately $330 million in 2024. Digital remittances accounted for about 64% of total volume, reflecting the rapid expansion of fintech products, mobile money services, and digital platforms that are improving access to payment solutions.
Data from the South African Reserve Bank and FinMark Trust further underscore this trend. Formal outward remittances from South Africa to Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries rose significantly to around R19.3 billion in 2024, marking a notable increase compared to earlier years. Over the past eight years, cumulative outward remittances to SADC member states have exceeded R112 billion, reinforcing South Africa’s pivotal role as a regional remittance hub.
Cassava partnership also aligns with Western Union’s broader strategy to defend and expand its footprint in Africa’s competitive remittance market. The remittance company recently announced plans to introduce a dollar-backed stablecoin, USDPT, in 2026 as part of efforts to compete with fintech and crypto platforms offering faster and lower-cost digital transfer solutions.
Mohamed Touhami el Ouazzani, Head of Africa at Western Union, stated that the collaboration would extend the company’s global network to a wider base of consumers in South Africa while enhancing cross-border transfer capabilities.
For Cassava Technologies, the deal opens access to a larger revenue pool and user base, enabling expansion beyond domestic services into high-value cross-border payment corridors. By aligning with a globally recognised remittance leader, Cassava and its Sasai fintech platform strengthen their competitive position against traditional banks, established remittance operators, and emerging fintech challengers.
Headquartered in the United Kingdom, Cassava Technologies operates across Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, and the United States. Through its business units which includes Cassava AI, Liquid Intelligent Technologies, Liquid Cloud and Cyber Security, Africa Data Centres, and Sasai Fintech, the company delivers digital infrastructure and services in 94 countries, advancing its ambition to become a leading global technology company of African heritage.