News | 28.08.2020
COVID-19: Providing vulnerable communities with essential services
Flash supports the informal economy and provides vulnerable communities with essential services during Lockdown
With over 30 million South Africans (56% of the population) living on less than R41 per day, leading technology service provider, Flash delivers a host of essential services to individuals, households, SMMEs and retailers across South Africa’s informal trading landscape via its safe and secure cash-in services offering.
Flash has been designated an ‘essential services provider’, during the Government’s COVID-19 Lockdown, as it enables low-income communities and at-risk individuals to purchase essentials like electricity, airtime, data and facilitate financial transactions via thousands of local Flash shops, thereby minimising the need for people to access public transport to reach commercial shopping malls.
Flash Brand Marketing Manager, Thando Mxutu says, “As South Africa moves into its second week of Lockdown, Flash is doing its bit to ‘flatten the curve’ and keep South African communities safe by providing them with local access to a wide variety of essential services through our network of 172 000 registered Flash shops.”
A number of Flash shop traders have reported an increase in foot traffic and sales on essential items since the Lockdown as people stock up on necessities:
Says White Star Superette Shop Assistant, Navin from La Mercy, Kwa-Zulu Natal, “Business has increased because of panic buying and Flash helps with daily sales for customers.”
Manager at Freddie’s Service Centre at Sebokeng’s Zennex Garage, Neo Mathobisa comments, “While our petrol sales are down, airtime and electricity sales are going extremely well. It feels good to be the number one in Sebokeng pumping Flash and helping the community.”
Flash processes millions of transactions daily for a variety of services on a daily basis, benefitting more than 20 million people per month through its network.
“As a means of reducing the negative impact of the Lockdown on the informal economy, Flash minimises the need for people to travel too far from their homes to buy electricity or airtime, enabling them to purchase these essentials via Flash shops, which in turn, keeps money in communities and protects the informal economy at a time when it’s at its most vulnerable.” concludes Mxutu.
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