Ina Kwana,
Victoria from Techpoint here,
Here’s what I’ve got for you:
- South Sudan cracks down on FX market manipulation
- Piggyvest now issues its own virtual account numbers
- Uber rolls out women-only rides in South Africa
Uber rolls out women-only rides in South Africa
Uber has finally joined South Africa’s women-only ride wave. The ride-hailing giant has rolled out a new “Women Drivers” option, giving female riders the choice to be paired with female drivers when they book trips.
The company says the move is all about safety and peace of mind, with many women preferring female drivers in a country where concerns about crime and harassment on ride-hailing platforms remain high. “It’s a simple update, but one that makes a big difference,” said Deepesh Thomas, Uber’s Sub-Saharan Africa GM.
The feature has been tested in places like the US and France, but Uber says it adapted it for South Africa, where safety worries are top of mind for users. The option is visible only to women riders, and even if a woman is travelling with a man, female drivers can choose to cancel the trip if they’re uncomfortable.
Uber isn’t the first mover here. Bolt launched its “Women Only” category back in 2021, now available in 12 cities, while local startups like Kgosigadi Rides and Wanatu also cater to women who prefer female drivers. Uber’s late entry shows just how much demand there is for safer, more inclusive transport.
The service is designed to empower female drivers too, who often feel vulnerable when taking requests late at night or in high-risk areas. With Women Drivers, they can choose to accept trips from women only, while still tapping into periods of high demand.
The launch comes as South Africa tightens e-hailing regulations, requiring drivers to get operating permits, brand their vehicles, and even add panic buttons. For Uber, this women-focused ride option is not just a new product, but part of a broader push to “think differently about mobility” in the country.
Piggyvest now issues its own virtual account numbers
Piggyvest is taking full control of how its users fund their savings. The fintech has rolled out virtual account numbers through PocketApp, a move designed to cut out middlemen and fix long-running payment delays that frustrated customers.
Since its launch in 2016, Piggyvest has relied on card payments and later, third-party providers like Paystack, Flutterwave, and Monnify for virtual account numbers. While the setup gave users more control over deposits, especially those wary of auto-debits, it also meant Piggyvest was at the mercy of bank partners when glitches happened.
Joshua Chibueze, co-founder and CMO, says this dependency became a problem. “Customers don’t care if it’s a bank issue or a partner issue. All they know is, they sent money and it hasn’t landed. That was causing a lot of distrust,” he explained.
To fix this, Piggyvest has spent the last three years quietly building its own payment infrastructure through PocketApp, which it acquired in 2022. The new system, built in partnership with Paystack, allows Piggyvest to issue its own account numbers, starting with Flex Naira and House Money wallets.
For users, that means fewer delays, lower costs, and more transparency. For Piggyvest, it means cutting down on fees and finally controlling the entire value chain. “Now, if there’s a delay, we know exactly where the money is and can fix it very quickly,” Chibueze said.
The company plans to expand PocketApp account numbers across more products in the coming months. Learn more about what this means for Piggyvest users — and the products it’s working on next — in Chimgozirim’s latest for Techpoint Africa.
South Sudan cracks down on FX market manipulation
South Sudan’s central bank is taking a tough stance on financial institutions accused of gaming its foreign exchange system. The Bank of South Sudan (BoSS) says some banks and non-bank operators have been manipulating electronic money (e-money) forex transactions, offering higher rates than those used for cash-based trades.
Per Majouk Kuol Mading, the director general for supervision and financial stability at BoSS, the practice has raised “serious concern” inside the apex bank. He warned that such behaviour distorts the market, erodes public confidence, and threatens the integrity of the country’s monetary system.
The core issue is parity. Regulators insist that forex transactions done through e-money must match the rates applied in cash deals. Anything else, the bank argues, creates unfair advantages, instability, and room for abuse.
In a strongly worded directive, BoSS reminded all players in the sector that rules must be followed to the letter. “This practice is unacceptable, distortionary and contrary to regulatory requirements,” Mading told reporters.
The bank isn’t leaving any room for doubt about consequences. Penalties for violators could include heavy fines, suspension or outright removal of executives, and even the revocation of banking licences.
With South Sudan’s economy already under pressure, the regulator says it cannot afford a parallel system where digital forex trades tilt the market. For financial institutions, the message is clear: comply or risk being pushed out of the system.
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Have a wonderful Wednesday!
Victoria Fakiya for Techpoint Africa
