MTN chairman Mcebisi Jonas told delegates at the MTN Group Fintech Summit in Johannesburg that Africa’s digital financial services future will be shaped as much by collaboration and trust as by technology or regulation.
From access to financial health
Jonas framed the continent’s fintech story as one that began with a practical solution for people outside the formal banking system and has rapidly evolved into a sophisticated digital financial ecosystem. He said the sector’s growth is attracting capital, but that investors have grown more selective.
“Africa’s fintech story has moved remarkably very quickly. What began in many markets as an answer to a very practical challenge – how to enable people without traditional banking access to send and receive money – has evolved into a sophisticated digital financial ecosystem.”
He argued the conversation now needs to shift from simple access to improving people’s financial health — helping users manage daily finances, withstand economic shocks and plan for the future — rather than focusing solely on transaction speed or reach.
Scale and context: mobile money figures
Jonas cited recent global and regional mobile money figures to underline the scale of the opportunity and the responsibility that comes with it:
- $2 trillion flowed through mobile money globally in 2025;
- $1.4 trillion of that value was in Sub‑Saharan Africa;
- 2.3 billion registered mobile money accounts worldwide;
- 593 million active accounts in the last 30 days.
These numbers, Jonas said, reflect how connectivity has helped millions participate in the digital economy, but they also raise questions about inclusion, protection and long‑term economic participation.
Role of platforms such as MoMo
Jonas highlighted MTN Group’s MoMo product as an example of how mobile money platforms have broadened access to financial services across markets where MTN operates. He said the next phase must deliver services that improve users’ economic resilience and day‑to‑day money management.
What this means for South Africa
For South African policymakers, regulators and fintech firms the emphasis on financial health implies several practical priorities:
- Designing products that support budgeting, savings and protection against shocks rather than only enabling payments;
- Working across industry, regulators and civil society to build trusted, resilient systems that protect users’ data and funds;
- Focusing investment toward solutions that demonstrably deepen economic participation, not just transaction volume.
Jonas suggested that success will depend on bringing different perspectives together — technology providers, regulators, investors, incumbents and new entrants — to create ecosystems that are innovative, trusted and inclusive.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Global mobile money value (2025) | $2 trillion |
| Sub‑Saharan Africa share (2025) | $1.4 trillion |
| Registered mobile money accounts | 2.3 billion |
| Active 30‑day accounts | 593 million |
As South Africa continues to grapple with inequality, high unemployment and periodic economic shocks, the policy and commercial choices made now about digital financial services will influence who benefits from the digital economy and how resilient households become.
This framing also matters for investors and startups: fintechs that move beyond payments into services that measurably improve financial stability may be better positioned to attract capital and scale across markets.
Jonas’s remarks at the summit underline a broader industry debate: inclusion is no longer just about bringing accounts to people, it is about delivering ongoing financial wellbeing and creating systems that people can rely on in uncertain times.
