The partnership will see Picup’s riders equipped with the rugged Bajaj Boxer 150, supporting the company’s rapidly expanding operations across the country.

This partnership is designed to improve uptime, reduce operating costs, and enhance driver safety and productivity — all while delivering a seamless experience to the end customer.

Bajaj’s robust, low-maintenance fleet perfectly complements Picup’s commitment to smart logistics and scalable delivery solutions.

“Picup is more than a logistics partner – it’s a platform for opportunity,” said Mikael Cloete, business head of Bajaj South Africa. “By connecting people, brands, and communities, they’re redefining how last-mile delivery is done in South Africa. We’re proud to support this mission with vehicles designed for real-world performance, fuel efficiency, and reliability.”

As one of the most respected logistics technology brands, Picup is known for its reliability, innovation, and commitment to inclusive growth. Through its platform, thousands of South Africans have been given access to income generating work using smart, app-based tools that enhance efficiency and service delivery.

Antonio Bruni, the Picup founder says the key focus is enabling drivers with reliable vehicles.

“Our primary goal is to offer a rent-to-own solution. We’ve done all the hard work to bring this programme to life, and now we’re ready to launch it. In partnership with Bajaj, we’ll also be rolling out electric vehicles later this year – expanding beyond petrol bikes to include sustainable EV options,” Bruni said.

With a client base that includes Pick n Pay, Dis-Chem, Nandos, and other household brands, Picup is not only trusted for its delivery reliability, but also celebrated for its contribution to South Africa’s digital and economic transformation.

This Bajaj partnership will allow Picup to expand its footprint with even greater efficiency, backed by a fleet that’s been proven across global markets.

In collaboration with Access Bank and Pick n Pay, the Mama Money Card aims to overcome the challenges faced by millions in the country where there are barriers to conventional banking services.

Using WhatsApp, a Mama Money Card customer can easily manage their account. This includes buying airtime or electricity, depositing cash, checking account balances, and instantly freezing the card if it has been lost or stolen. Customers can also shop online or swipe in stores to buy goods, withdraw money from any ATM, and send money to over 70 countries worldwide using their Mama Money Card.

“The Mama Money Card is making it much easier for under-served communities to get their own bank service where all they need is proof of identity such as a passport, asylum document or South African ID to register for Mama Money on their phone. We’ve always sought ways to make financial services more accessible and tailored to the needs of our unique customer base,” says Mathieu Coquillon, co-founder of Mama Money.

“We’ve seen a big demand from employers who previously paid their staff in cash or via e-wallet or have issues with employees sharing bank account details. Each Mama Money Card comes with a unique account number that makes it simple to pay salaries and gives cardholders full control of their money,” added Coquillon.

To sign up for the Mama Money Card, customers can download the Mama Money app and register within minutes before collecting their card from selected Pick n Pay stores in Johannesburg, Cape Town or Durban.

There is a once-off cost of R99 for the card and the monthly fee is R25. For sending money abroad the fee is 5% or less depending on where you are sending money to.

All new customers who buy their Mama Money Card from Pick n Pay this November will receive their first monthly fee for free.

The Mama Money Card offers more than just a banking service.

“It provides security, supports employment and promotes secure savings, improving the livelihoods of our customers,” states Coquillon.

“The Mama Money Card has big potential to reach South Africa’s unbanked population. With convenient access through WhatsApp, it removes barriers like physical bank branches or ATMs that often limit banking options. Given South Africa’s high cellphone and WhatsApp usage, this service is making essential banking and payment functions more accessible. Pick n Pay is proud to support this innovative, tailored solution through our extensive store network, bringing financial inclusion one step closer to everyone – something we have always promoted,” said Deven Moodley, executive head of Value-Added Services, Financial Services, and Mobile at Pick n Pay.

Understanding that financial inclusion delivers opportunities for access to the formal and digital economy, the launch of the Mama Money Card is a testament to both companies’ commitment to empowering people by making it easier and more affordable to access fundamental financial services.

The grocery giant, which currently holds a 51% stake in its Nigerian joint venture with A.G. Leventis, announced this exit as a strategy to focus on its core South African market, as operational challenges have been increasing in Nigeria.

CEO Sean Summers made the announcement on Monday, less than five years after the retailer first established a presence in Nigeria with two stores.

Pick n Pay’s departure reiterates the difficulties faced by foreign retailers in Nigeria’s tough economic sector. High inflation, currency volatility, and rising costs have corrupted consumer purchasing power and made operations very challenging. 

Even with Nigeria’s promising consumer base, these macroeconomic issues have deterred profitability, pushing numerous international businesses to reassess their presence.

The announcement follows a series of similar moves by other South African retailers. Shoprite, for example, exited Nigeria after closing its stores in Abuja and Kano, due to an adverse business environment. 

This retreat has affected not just South African companies but also multinationals like Diageo, which recently sold its majority stake in Guinness Nigeria Plc, and firms like GSK, Procter & Gamble, Sanofi, and Kimberly-Clark. 

Many of these companies have pointed to the endless issues of foreign exchange restrictions, escalating energy prices, and weakened consumer demand with high inflation as reasons for their withdrawal.

Nigeria has seen unstable inflation, with rates rising from about 24% to over 34% within the past 18 months. This surge, driven largely by the increasing cost of food and transportation, has negatively impacted consumers and retailers alike. 

Furthermore, the naira has depreciated greatly, dropping from around N462/$ to more than N1,500/$, following a government-led forex unification effort aimed at closing the gap between official and parallel market rates.

For Pick n Pay, which recently reported a larger half-year loss due to reduced profit margins and increased borrowing costs, exiting Nigeria aligns with its goal of consolidating resources to stabilise its South African operations. 

The company posted a pre-tax loss of 1.1 billion rand for the six months ending in August, with losses primarily stemming from its core supermarket division. However, Pick n Pay acknowledged growth in its clothing and online sectors, as well as a profitable performance by its Boxer discount division, which saw a 16% increase in trading profit. 

Summers said that the retailer could halve its trading losses in South Africa by year’s end, pointing to these profitable segments as essential to Pick n Pay’s recovery moves. 

The company has also set its sights on listing its Boxer division on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, with expectations of raising up to 8 billion rand, potentially being the largest listing in Africa for the year.

The federal government is striving to attract investment to boost economic stability, yet the challenges facing consumer goods companies are standing as obstacles to achieving sustainable growth in this market.