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Is cash still king? Exploring how township retailers navigate physical and digital money
Despite the rise of digital payments, cash remains integral to township economic tapestry, valued for its relational and adaptable qualities that digital alternatives have yet to fully emulate. This study challenges the conventional 'cash versus digital payments' dichotomy by presenting township ret...
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English English |
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Graduate School of Business (GSB)
2025
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| _version_ | 1867613152895565824 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Modise, Tshwanelo |
| author2 | Kruger, Graunt |
| author_browse | Kruger, Graunt Modise, Tshwanelo |
| author_facet | Kruger, Graunt Modise, Tshwanelo |
| author_sort | Modise, Tshwanelo |
| collection | Thesis |
| description | Despite the rise of digital payments, cash remains integral to township economic tapestry, valued for its relational and adaptable qualities that digital alternatives have yet to fully emulate. This study challenges the conventional 'cash versus digital payments' dichotomy by presenting township retailers as informal financial intermediaries who navigate the sophistication of digital payments alongside the deeply ingrained social and economic functions of cash. Guided by Orlikowski's (1992) Structurational Model of Technology, this research reveals how socio technical dynamics shape payment behaviours. It asserts that although digital payments are promoted as tools of financial inclusion, cash reflects social interactions and relational norms that digital methods have yet to fully replicate. Township businesses creatively navigate this dual payments system with situational adaptability, demonstrated through unique practices like ‘sweets-for-change,' which restructure the role of cash in the township business landscape. Through an evaluative lens, this research examines whether digital payments fulfil their promise of financial inclusion in cash-based economies, and advocates for financial solutions that recognise and leverage the symbiotic relationship between cash and digital payments. This research concludes that while cash may not undisputedly be king, it remains a vital component of the economic fabric in townships, coexisting with digital payments in a way that reflects the adaptability and resilience of these communities. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/42448 |
| institution | University of Cape Town (South Africa) |
| language | English eng |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:31:35.974Z |
| license_str | Not specified — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | Graduate School of Business (GSB) |
| publisherStr | Graduate School of Business (GSB) |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| spelling | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/42448 Is cash still king? Exploring how township retailers navigate physical and digital money Modise, Tshwanelo Kruger, Graunt socio-informatics financial inclusion township economy South Africa digital payments Despite the rise of digital payments, cash remains integral to township economic tapestry, valued for its relational and adaptable qualities that digital alternatives have yet to fully emulate. This study challenges the conventional 'cash versus digital payments' dichotomy by presenting township retailers as informal financial intermediaries who navigate the sophistication of digital payments alongside the deeply ingrained social and economic functions of cash. Guided by Orlikowski's (1992) Structurational Model of Technology, this research reveals how socio technical dynamics shape payment behaviours. It asserts that although digital payments are promoted as tools of financial inclusion, cash reflects social interactions and relational norms that digital methods have yet to fully replicate. Township businesses creatively navigate this dual payments system with situational adaptability, demonstrated through unique practices like ‘sweets-for-change,' which restructure the role of cash in the township business landscape. Through an evaluative lens, this research examines whether digital payments fulfil their promise of financial inclusion in cash-based economies, and advocates for financial solutions that recognise and leverage the symbiotic relationship between cash and digital payments. This research concludes that while cash may not undisputedly be king, it remains a vital component of the economic fabric in townships, coexisting with digital payments in a way that reflects the adaptability and resilience of these communities. 2025-12-17T13:46:16Z 2025-12-17T13:46:16Z 2025 2025-12-17T13:42:24Z Thesis / Dissertation Masters MPhil http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42448 en eng application/pdf Graduate School of Business (GSB) Faculty of Commerce University of Cape Town |
| spellingShingle | socio-informatics financial inclusion township economy South Africa digital payments Modise, Tshwanelo Is cash still king? Exploring how township retailers navigate physical and digital money |
| thesis_degree_str | Master's |
| title | Is cash still king? Exploring how township retailers navigate physical and digital money |
| title_full | Is cash still king? Exploring how township retailers navigate physical and digital money |
| title_fullStr | Is cash still king? Exploring how township retailers navigate physical and digital money |
| title_full_unstemmed | Is cash still king? Exploring how township retailers navigate physical and digital money |
| title_short | Is cash still king? Exploring how township retailers navigate physical and digital money |
| title_sort | is cash still king exploring how township retailers navigate physical and digital money |
| topic | socio-informatics financial inclusion township economy South Africa digital payments |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42448 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT modisetshwanelo iscashstillkingexploringhowtownshipretailersnavigatephysicalanddigitalmoney |