No Free Lunch Podcast – Bringing Smart Phone Access to Africa
In this episode of No Free Lunch, Greg Stewart chats with Shaun Durandt, Head of Business Development at PayJoy, about how affordable smartphone access can help unlock earning potential, Learning access and business opportunity across African markets.
The discussion explores the scale of the smartphone gap in Africa, the business model behind PayJoy’s responsible lending approach, and why access to mobile technology is now central to education, entrepreneurship, healthcare, and everyday communication.
View the Podcast Here: No Free Lunch Podcast – Bringing Smart Phone Access to Africa
Key Discussion Points
Shaun’s background in telecoms and devices
Shaun explains how his career moved from the operator side at MTN, to the OEM world with BlackBerry, Nokia, Microsoft, and HMD Global, before joining PayJoy. That experience gave him deep insight into networks, consumer behavior, retail channels, and product strategy, all of which prepared him for a role focused on expanding access to smartphones.
Shaun explains how his career moved from the operator side at MTN, to the OEM world with BlackBerry, Nokia, Microsoft, and HMD Global, before joining PayJoy. That experience gave him deep insight into networks, consumer behavior, retail channels, and product strategy, all of which prepared him for a role focused on expanding access to smartphones.
Why PayJoy exists
Greg and Shaun discuss the reality that mobile phones are now the main gateway to the internet in many African markets, yet smartphone access remains limited by cost and infrastructure. PayJoy’s mission is to close that affordability gap by making entry-level and mid-range smartphones more accessible to underserved consumers.
Greg and Shaun discuss the reality that mobile phones are now the main gateway to the internet in many African markets, yet smartphone access remains limited by cost and infrastructure. PayJoy’s mission is to close that affordability gap by making entry-level and mid-range smartphones more accessible to underserved consumers.
The PayJoy model
Shaun breaks down the company’s rental-to-own model. Customers pay a small upfront amount, then make payments over three, six, or nine months before ownership transfers to them. PayJoy uses a light-touch risk assessment rather than traditional loan vetting, which helps reach people who are often unbanked or underbanked. The company also takes on the risk itself, including insurance and warranty responsibilities.
Shaun breaks down the company’s rental-to-own model. Customers pay a small upfront amount, then make payments over three, six, or nine months before ownership transfers to them. PayJoy uses a light-touch risk assessment rather than traditional loan vetting, which helps reach people who are often unbanked or underbanked. The company also takes on the risk itself, including insurance and warranty responsibilities.
Access and inclusion
A major theme of the conversation is inclusion. Shaun explains that smartphone access can help people build a credit record, create economic opportunities, and eventually qualify for larger financial products such as business loans or vehicle finance. The model is designed not just to sell phones, but to help people participate more fully in the digital economy.
A major theme of the conversation is inclusion. Shaun explains that smartphone access can help people build a credit record, create economic opportunities, and eventually qualify for larger financial products such as business loans or vehicle finance. The model is designed not just to sell phones, but to help people participate more fully in the digital economy.
Distribution strategy in South Africa
PayJoy uses a mix of traditional retail partnerships and its own branded kiosk network. Shaun highlights strong relationships with major South African retailers and mobile operators, along with hundreds of PayJoy kiosks nationwide. This blended distribution model helps the company stay close to customers while building brand identity and reach.
PayJoy uses a mix of traditional retail partnerships and its own branded kiosk network. Shaun highlights strong relationships with major South African retailers and mobile operators, along with hundreds of PayJoy kiosks nationwide. This blended distribution model helps the company stay close to customers while building brand identity and reach.
Growth and expansion plans
While South Africa remains a major focus, Shaun says expansion into the rest of Africa is firmly on the roadmap. He notes that regional retail footprints in SADC countries may provide a practical blueprint for growth, even though regulatory and market differences still need to be considered.
While South Africa remains a major focus, Shaun says expansion into the rest of Africa is firmly on the roadmap. He notes that regional retail footprints in SADC countries may provide a practical blueprint for growth, even though regulatory and market differences still need to be considered.
The bigger social impact
The conversation ends on the broader impact of smartphone access. Greg and Shaun reflect on how mobile connectivity supports education, small business growth, healthcare access, and resilience in moments like the COVID-19 lockdowns. Shaun also notes that rising memory costs, driven partly by AI demand, are making affordable access even more important.
PayJoy has emerged as more than a financing company, it is positioned as a catalyst for digital inclusion, helping turn smartphone access into a practical tool for opportunity, mobility, and long-term economic participation across Africa.
Listen To The Podcast Here:
The conversation ends on the broader impact of smartphone access. Greg and Shaun reflect on how mobile connectivity supports education, small business growth, healthcare access, and resilience in moments like the COVID-19 lockdowns. Shaun also notes that rising memory costs, driven partly by AI demand, are making affordable access even more important.
PayJoy has emerged as more than a financing company, it is positioned as a catalyst for digital inclusion, helping turn smartphone access into a practical tool for opportunity, mobility, and long-term economic participation across Africa.
