DLocal And inDrive Roll Out Cashless Ride Payments In South Africa Amid Digital Push

Global payment infrastructure company dLocal has partnered with mobility platform inDrive to introduce full cashless payment functionality for ride-hailing services in South Africa, enabling in-app card payments and instant driver settlements through local payment rails.

The new system allows passengers to pay directly with bank cards within the app, while drivers receive earnings through domestic payout channels. The integration also automates fare splitting in real time between drivers and the platform, reducing delays and operational friction in transactions.

South Africa’s ride-hailing sector, projected to nearly triple in size by 2033, is experiencing rapid digital transformation. Cards currently account for about 63 per cent of digital transactions in the country, while eWallet usage continues to rise and cash usage steadily declines, reflecting a broader shift toward electronic payments.

Brandspur Banking News Desk reports that the partnership introduces a unified payment structure that connects local card processing, instant payment systems such as PayShap, and domestic settlement rails through a single technical integration, designed to streamline both customer payments and driver payouts.

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According to the companies, the model also supports flexibility by maintaining cash as a payment option in markets where it remains relevant, positioning the solution as an expansion of choice rather than a complete replacement of cash-based transactions.

Industry executives say South Africa serves as the first end-to-end implementation of this system, with potential for expansion across other emerging markets in Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America, supported by dLocal’s cross-market payment infrastructure.

Speaking on the development, inDrive’s South Africa representative noted that seamless payments are critical for both rider convenience and driver income stability, while dLocal’s country leadership emphasised that effective payment systems in emerging markets depend on strong local infrastructure and tailored financial networks that match real-world transaction behaviour.