Botswana: Set up of SmartSwitch Botswana (Pty) Ltd. & the “LIVE” Rollout of UEPS Smart Cards to Government Food Grant

The launch of SmartSwitch Botswana (Proprietary) Limited commenced on the 6th of January 2006.  The company was launched with the objective to operate a national, UEPS smart card based switching and settlement system.  Being the first kind in Botswana, the System was set up to revolutionize the banking industry in serving the country’s un-banked and under-banked citizens.  SmartSwitch Botswana is currently operating on our UEPS Version 14 System. 

On the 04 September 2008, Net1 successfully implemented the UEPS software applications required for the distribution of electronic government grants by SmartSwitch Botswana (Pty) Ltd to beneficiaries previously receiving monthly food baskets in Botswana. The Ministry of Local Government: Department of Social Services through its local councils and sub-district councils, commenced registration and issuing of UEPS smart cards to beneficiaries across Botswana during September 2008. The distribution of grants using UEPS smart cards commenced on the 01 April 2009. 

The system provided by Net1 offers a secure and convenient method for the distribution of electronic grants to beneficiaries, comprising of destitute persons, orphans and community home-based care patients.  The beneficiaries benefit from the system, since the distribution of electronic grants is faster than the distribution of traditional food baskets or benefits. 

This system also significantly reduces the costs normally associated with food basket distribution via traditional channels, including administration, management, labour and transportation.  More importantly, it ensures that beneficiaries receiving these grants can only redeem the value loaded to their smart cards in selected merchant outlets providing food supplies.