South African app VodaPay, which is owned and operated (mostly) by Vodacom, has added a couple of new features. These features, the ability to both send and deposit money via the app, are edging the service ever closer to replicating the features of a bank. Which is probably the point, even if it’s being done in small increments.

VodaPay your way

The first thing you need to know is that depositing money into your VodaPay Wallet requires that you actually go to a physical location. One day, humanity will perfect the art of depositing cash into a mobile device. Today is not that day. And if you’re feeling clever and are wondering about depositing money digitally, that’s what’s known as a “transfer”. Possibly a “payment”.

Long story short, in order to deposit cash into one of Vodacom’s digital wallets, you’ll have to hit up a Vodacom store. Or a spaza merchant that uses Kazang. Or one of the following stores: Pick n Pay, Boxer, PEP, Ackermans, Makro, Rhino Cash ‘n Carry, Game, Builders Warehouse, or Cambridge Food. The cash loaded into the Wallet can be used to procure services and pay accounts (plus other things) via the VodaPay app.

Sending money puts the physical side of things on the receiver’s end. Users simply select the Send Money option in the app, choose where that money can be cashed out, and the amount to send. Whoever receives it will have to head to either Pick n Pay, Kazang venues, or a Cash Express ATM. You know, the little red ones that always look like Absa made them?

“As we continue to innovate and seek digital solutions for our customers, we look forward to bringing even more offerings to VodaPay as the year continues”, said Vodacom Financial CEO Mariam Cassim in an announcement.