ACI Worldwide, a global provider of real-time payments software, has gone live with a new partnership with Kwik Payments, a South African payment service provider (PSP), to expand digital commerce capabilities across Africa. The collaboration, announced on June18, 2026, integrates ACI’s Secure eCommerce solution with Kwik Payments’ platform to facilitate faster merchant onboarding and transaction processing for businesses in the region.
The partnership is designed to address operational bottlenecks for merchants seeking to accept digital payments. By leveraging ACI’s technology, Kwik Payments aims to reduce the time required to onboard new merchants from weeks to days, while providing a unified platform to manage transactions from various payment methods. These include major card networks like Visa and Mastercard, as well as local payment options prevalent in African markets.
“Our collaboration with ACI Worldwide marks a pivotal step in our mission to simplify digital payments for African businesses,” said Ryan van der Merwe, co-founder and CEO of Kwik Payments. He noted that the integration would help merchants “seamlessly accept payments from a diverse range of methods, enhancing their ability to compete in a rapidly digitising economy.”
The move comes as South Africa experiences significant growth in digital wallet adoption, though the landscape is complicated by regulatory requirements. According to a separate industry report from June 2026, South Africa’s digital wallet sector is facing a “licensing problem,” with providers navigating a complex web of approvals from the South African Reserve Bank (SARB). The report highlighted that companies need both a payments clearing system license and potentially a financial services provider license, creating hurdles for new entrants.
ACI Worldwide’s involvement provides Kwik Payments with established, licensed technology infrastructure, which may help streamline compliance. The ACI Secure eCommerce platform is used globally to process over $500 billion in eCommerce transactions annually, offering fraud management and payment gateway services. For Kwik Payments, which focuses on the South African market with plans for broader African expansion, this partnership adds a layer of scalability and security to its offerings.
The African fintech sector continues to attract investment and partnerships aimed at increasing financial inclusion and digital commerce penetration. While mobile money services like M-Pesa dominate in East Africa, Southern African markets, including South Africa, have seen stronger growth in card-based and account-to-account digital payments. Partnerships between global technology providers like ACI and local PSPs are becoming a common strategy to bridge infrastructure gaps and meet rising merchant demand for integrated payment solutions.
Industry observers note that the success of such ventures often depends on navigating distinct regulatory environments in each African country. The partnership between ACI and Kwik Payments will be tested as it scales, requiring ongoing adaptation to local payment preferences and compliance frameworks beyond South Africa’s borders.