DeltaPay Eswatini has been officially announced as a digital payment partner for the upcoming Makoti Festival 2025, offering festivalgoers a 20% discount on all alcoholic beverages purchased at official bars and drink stations, exclusively when using the DeltaPay App.
The announcement was made during a media briefing this week, where DeltaPay’s Head of Marketing, Lethukuthula Ndwandwe, detailed the terms of the partnership and outlined how the platform will be integrated into the festival experience.
Attendees who use the DeltaPay app to make purchases will receive a 20% discount on all drinks, as part of a broader push toward encouraging digital payments at large-scale public events.
“This isn’t just about discounts—it’s about progress,” Ndwandwe said. “Eswatini is ready for a cashless future, and this partnership is a bold step in that direction. Whether you’re a festivalgoer or a vendor, DeltaPay is here to make payments easier, cut down on queues, and improve safety by reducing cash handling.”
DeltaPay is a Swazi-grown next-generation digital wallet that enables instant peer-to-peer transfers, cash-free merchant QR payments with zero transaction fees. The app is quick to sign up for, user-friendly, and supported by an on-the-ground customer support team throughout the event.
In addition to facilitating digital transactions, the DeltaPay team will provide on-site onboarding and merchant support throughout the festival.
Thembinkosi Mthethwa from the Makoti Festival welcomed the development, noting that while Eswatini’s adoption of digital payment platforms remains slow, the event presents an opportunity to drive behavioural change.
“We are very excited to join the digital movement, the cashless movement,” Mthethwa said. “When we looked at this partnership, our main concern was the safety of our festivalgoers. Using a digital payment solution reduces the risks associated with cash handling.”
He also emphasized the festival’s decision to back a local product over international platforms. “Instead of enlisting services from outside, we are choosing to grow the local economy and build trust in technology created by emaSwati, for emaSwati.”
Vendors participating in the festival have already been onboarded to the DeltaPay system, and initial feedback has been positive. Organizers said they are currently fielding questions from vendors eager to understand how the app works and how it will affect their operations during the festival.
Organized by New Life Entertainment, Makoti Festival is one of Eswatini’s leading cultural events, celebrating music, fashion, art, and identity. Each year, thousands gather for this vibrant showcase of local talent, creativity, and community spirit.