Apple Pay launches in South Africa with support for three banks

Apple has launched its Apple Pay platform in South Africa with support for select banks in the country.

At launch, Apple Pay is supported by three South African banks: Absa Group, Nedbank Group, and Discovery Bank. All three are part of the Discovery group, according to South Africa media outlet TechCentral.

Customers of those banks in South Africa found that they were able to add their cards to the digital wallet starting March 29. Some users noted that they received notifications informing them of the launch.

"As the affinity for digital payments grows in the South African market, we strive to ensure that we continue to provide our clients with the most recent and in-demand contactless payment solutions," Chipo Mushwana, Nedbank's chief of emerging payments, told TechCentral.

Other local banks, such as FNB, are reportedly working to bring Apple Pay support to their own customers.

The popularity of contactless payment systems has surged during the coronavirus pandemic, both in South Africa and globally. In addition to Apple Pay, South African consumers also have access to Samsung Pay, Fitbit Pay, and Garmin Pay — all of which launched in 2018.

South Africa has also become the first country on the continent to get Apple Pay support. Apple maintains a list of all regions that supported the payment platform on its website.