Angola: More than 2.600 ATMs now accept MasterCard!

The operator of Angola's only interbank network, Empresa Interbancária de Serviços (EMIS), and American multinational financial services corporation MasterCard have formed a new partnership that sees all of EMIS' 2.600+ Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) in Angola accept MasterCard debit, credit and prepaid cards. Prior to the partnership, which came into effect today (26 Nov 2014), MasterCard cardholders could only access funds at 65 ATMs in Angola.

Zambia: Credit card now accepted for visa fees

According to the African Travel & Tourism Association (ATTA), the Ministry of Finance and National Planning of Zambia announced that with immediate effect all payments for visa and other fees at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in Lusaka, Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport in Livingstone and Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International Airport in Ndola can be done with certain bankcards/credit cards. Until now, all payments had to be in cash (US$ only).

The following bank cards will be accepted:

• VISA
• MasterCard
• Maestro
• American Express

Types of visa and the applicable fees:

• Single Entry - US$50
• Double Entry - US$80
• Multiple Entry - US$80
• Transit - US$50
• Day Tripper - US$20

South African Airways: Allways bring your credit card

An American tourist recently had to pay two times for her ticket for a flight from Lusaka, Zambia, to Cape Town (via Johannesburg) because she couldn't present the particular credit card she made the booking with when checking with her e-ticket. South African Airways is using this credit card for identification of the customer and precaution against ticket fraud and is therefore not accepting (international) passports, driver's licenses, or other credit card as valid identification. So pls keep in mind:
If you're flying with an electronic ticket, "all you have to do is present an I.D. document and credit card (for authentication purposes) to the check-in agent and you will be issued with the normal boarding pass." (src.)

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South Africa: Motorists can pay for fuel by credit card

Petrol stations in South Africa are compelled to accept cards, such as credit and debit cards, for fuel payments, the department of energy said on Thursday. The new regulations take effect on Friday (today!) and are expected to reduce the number of robberies that take place at petrol stations.
Another motivating factor behind the new regulations is the 2010 World Cup and the influx of foreigners coming to the country who do not want to carry cash around all the time. [src.]

Just keep in mind that not all not all petrol stations were immediately equipped to handle card payments.

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