Good day,
Victoria from Techpoint here, bringing you the latest updates:
- South Sudan intensifies efforts against foreign exchange market manipulation
- Piggyvest launches proprietary virtual account numbers
- Uber introduces women-only ride options in South Africa
Uber launches women-only ride service in South Africa
Uber has now embraced South Africa’s trend of women-only rides by unveiling a new feature called “Women Drivers.” This option allows female passengers to request rides exclusively with female drivers, enhancing their sense of security.
The initiative focuses on safety and comfort, addressing the concerns many women have about crime and harassment in ride-hailing services. Deepesh Thomas, Uber’s General Manager for Sub-Saharan Africa, emphasized that while the update is straightforward, it significantly improves the user experience.
Although similar features have been piloted in countries like the US and France, Uber tailored this service specifically for South African users, where safety remains a paramount issue. The option is accessible only to women riders, and female drivers retain the right to cancel trips if they feel uneasy, even when accompanying male passengers are present.
Uber follows other players in this space, such as Bolt, which introduced its “Women Only” category in 2021 across 12 cities, and local startups like Kgosigadi Rides and Wanatu that cater to women seeking female drivers. Uber’s entry highlights the growing demand for safer, more inclusive transportation options.
This service also empowers female drivers, who often face vulnerability when accepting rides late at night or in risky neighborhoods. With the Women Drivers feature, they can opt to accept trips solely from female passengers while benefiting from peak demand periods.
The launch coincides with South Africa’s tightening of e-hailing regulations, which now require drivers to obtain operating permits, display vehicle branding, and install panic buttons. For Uber, this women-focused ride option is part of a broader strategy to rethink mobility solutions in the country.
Piggyvest introduces its own virtual account numbers
Piggyvest is enhancing user experience by issuing its own virtual account numbers through its PocketApp platform, aiming to eliminate intermediaries and resolve persistent payment delays that have frustrated customers.
Since its inception in 2016, Piggyvest depended on card payments and later on third-party providers such as Paystack, Flutterwave, and Monnify for virtual account services. While this gave users more control over deposits, especially those cautious about automatic debits, it also made Piggyvest reliant on external banking partners when technical issues arose.
Joshua Chibueze, co-founder and CMO, explained that this reliance caused trust issues: “Users don’t differentiate between bank or partner faults; they only see that their funds haven’t been credited, which undermines confidence.”
To address this, Piggyvest has spent the past three years developing its own payment infrastructure via PocketApp, acquired in 2022. Collaborating with Paystack, the fintech now issues proprietary account numbers, initially for its Flex Naira and House Money wallets.
For customers, this translates to faster transactions, reduced fees, and greater transparency. For Piggyvest, it means full control over the payment process and quicker resolution of any delays. “We can now pinpoint exactly where funds are if there’s a holdup and resolve it promptly,” Chibueze added.
The company intends to roll out PocketApp virtual accounts across more products soon. Discover more about this development and upcoming Piggyvest offerings in Chimgozirim’s detailed report for Techpoint Africa.
South Sudan clamps down on foreign exchange market abuses
The Bank of South Sudan (BoSS) is intensifying enforcement against financial entities manipulating the foreign exchange market, particularly targeting banks and non-bank operators who have been offering inflated rates for electronic money (e-money) forex transactions compared to cash trades.
Majouk Kuol Mading, BoSS’s Director General for Supervision and Financial Stability, expressed serious concerns over this practice, stating it undermines market fairness, damages public trust, and jeopardizes the country’s monetary system integrity.
The central issue revolves around maintaining parity between e-money and cash forex rates. Regulators emphasize that discrepancies create unfair advantages, destabilize the market, and open avenues for exploitation.
In a firm directive, BoSS reminded all market participants that adherence to these regulations is mandatory. “Such distortive practices are unacceptable and violate regulatory standards,” Mading declared.
The bank has warned of strict penalties for offenders, including hefty fines, suspension or dismissal of responsible executives, and potential revocation of banking licenses.
Given South Sudan’s fragile economic state, the regulator insists on eliminating any parallel forex systems that could disrupt market stability. The message to financial institutions is unequivocal: comply fully or face exclusion from the market.
Additional updates and opportunities
- Airtel is recruiting an Enterprise Key Account Manager. Apply here.
- Financial Times seeks a West African Correspondent. Apply here.
- Moove is hiring a Marketing Manager. Apply here.
- Standard Bank is looking for a Data Engineer. Apply here.
- Kuda Business and Techpoint Africa invite you to a webinar on Managing Payment Operations at Scale with APIs on October 2, 2025, at 12 p.m. WAT. Register here.
- Food Court is recruiting a Marketing Coordinator. Apply here.
- FairMoney is hiring Head of Business Banking Product. Apply here.
- Max.ng is seeking a Platform Support Intern. Apply here.
- Businessfront, Techpoint Africa’s parent company, is hiring a Sales Associate. Apply here.
- Businessfront is also looking for a Managing Editor (FMCG). Apply here.
- Flutterwave has multiple openings. Apply here.
- Paystack is recruiting a Performance Marketing Specialist in Nigeria. Apply here.
- Paga is hiring for various roles. Apply here.
- Moniepoint is recruiting for several positions. Apply here.
- Equity Merchants CommunityConnect offers startup founders a platform to network with peers, experts, and investors, providing valuable insights and exclusive resources. Join here.
- Help improve Techpoint by sharing your feedback in a quick 30-second survey here.
- Pitch your startup or product to a live audience via this link.
- Suggest new products for Techpoint’s marketplace here.
- Stay updated on African tech trends by joining Techpoint Africa’s WhatsApp channel here.
Wishing you a productive Wednesday!
Victoria Fakiya for Techpoint Africa