South Africa’s Deputy President, Paul Mashatile, has welcomed Visa’s R1 billion investment pledge, describing it as a major step toward strengthening the country’s digital infrastructure, driving economic growth, and supporting youth and small businesses.
He made the remarks during a meeting with senior Visa executives on the sidelines of the G20 Summit.
Mashatile met with Visa’s Regional President for Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Tareq Muhmood, along with Senior Vice-President and Global Head of Government Affairs, Bobby Thomson, at OR Tambo House in Pretoria.
The meeting reaffirmed Visa’s long-term commitment to South Africa, anchored by the multiyear investment to be rolled out over the next three years.
At the heart of Visa’s investment is the establishment of South Africa’s first domestic Visa data centre—the first of its kind on the African continent.
The Deputy President said the move represents a significant vote of confidence in South Africa’s economic prospects and digital transition.
“As a government, we remain receptive to new avenues for investment,” Mashatile said.
“Your commitment to our country’s infrastructure development has not gone unnoticed. We are committed to enhancing partnerships to augment investment in our beautiful nation.”
Mashatile noted that the new data centre will help localise transaction processing, reduce system vulnerabilities, and improve payment service reliability nationwide.
He added that the facility will accelerate innovations in digital finance—such as digital wallets and secure payment technologies—while strengthening South Africa’s position as a regional financial hub.
Beyond the technical gains, the Deputy President highlighted the broader economic impact of the investment.
He said Visa’s initiatives would empower small and medium-sized enterprises, uplift township economies, and provide vital opportunities for young people through digital skills training, mentorship and financial inclusion programmes.
Mashatile also commended Visa for its ongoing support in building South Africa’s digital environment and improving local infrastructure, saying these contributions were crucial to ensuring sustainable economic development.
The Deputy President concluded by inviting the Visa delegation to participate in next year’s South Africa Investment Conference, scheduled for March 2026.
He said the conference would offer an important platform to deepen cooperation and identify new areas of partnership.
“We encourage you to participate as we explore further opportunities that will benefit your company as well as South Africa and its people, especially the youth,” he said.
Mashatile’s engagement with Visa comes as South Africa positions itself to attract global investment ahead of hosting the G20 Leaders’ Summit—set to be held on African soil for the first time. The meeting signals a renewed push by the government to secure high-impact partnerships capable of expanding digital access, modernising infrastructure, and driving inclusive economic growth.
