The thesis deals with the emergence of bank and non-bank entities that provide a range of unique
transaction-based payment services broadly called Mobile Financial Services (MFS) to unbanked,
underserved and underbanked persons via mobile phones.
Models of MFS from Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), banks, combinations of MNOs and banks, and
independent Mobile Financial Services Providers are covered. Provision by non-banks of ‘bank-type’
services via mobile phones has been termed ‘transformational banking’ versus the ‘additive banking’
services from banks. All involve the concept of ‘branchless banking’ whereby ‘cash-in/cash out’ services
are provided through ‘agents.’
Funds for MFS payments may available through a Stored Value Product (SVP), particularly through a
Stored Value Account SVP variant offered by MNOs where value is stored as a redeemable fiat- or mobile
‘airtime’-based Store of Value.
The competitive, legal, technical and regulatory nature of non-bank versus bank MFS models is discussed,
in particular the impact of banking, payments, money laundering, telecommunications, e-commerce and
consumer protection laws. Whether funding mechanisms for SVPs may amount to deposit-taking such that
entities could be engaged in the ‘business of banking’ is discussed. The continued use of ‘deposit’ as the
traditional trigger for the ‘business of banking’ is investigated, alongside whether transaction and paymentcentric
MFS rises to the ‘business of banking.’
An extensive evaluation of ‘money’ based on the Orthodox and Claim School economic theories is
undertaken in relation to SVPs used in MFS, their legal associations and import, and whether they may be
deemed ‘money’ in law.
Consumer protection for MFS and payments generally through current statute, contract, and payment law
and common law condictiones are found to be wanting. Possible regulatory arbitrage in relation to MFS in
South African law is discussed.
The legal and regulatory regimes in the European Union, Kenya and the United States of America are
compared with South Africa. The need for a coordinated payments-specific law that has consumer
protections, enables proportional risk-based licensing of new non-bank providers of MFS, and allows for a
regulator for retail payments is recommended. The use of trust companies and trust accounts is
recommended for protection of user funds.
| vi / Public, Constitutional and International Law / LLD
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:unisa/oai:umkn-dsp01.int.unisa.ac.za:10500/13362 |
| Date | 11 1900 |
| Creators | Perlman, Leon Joseph |
| Contributors | Pretorius, J.T. Prof. |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 1 online resource (xxx, 793 leaves) |
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