Ozow Appoints Tendi Nyathi as Chief Risk and Governance Officer
South Africa – 30 March 2026.
Leading South African fintech Ozow has appointed Tendi Nyathi as its first Chief Risk and Governance Officer (CRGO), effective 1 April 2026.
This newly created executive role underscores how payments companies in South Africa are elevating risk, compliance, and regulatory strategy from back-office functions to core drivers of sustainable growth and innovation.
Nyathi, who previously served as Ozow’s Chief Legal Officer, will now oversee enterprise-wide risk management, governance frameworks, and regulatory engagement. She will continue to lead the legal function while playing a pivotal role in supporting licensing initiatives as the company expands into new markets and product lines.
Why This Appointment Matters for South African Fintech
The fintech sector in South Africa is undergoing rapid transformation. Regulators are shifting toward activity-based regulation, stronger fraud prevention measures, and deeper integration of non-bank players under the South African Reserve Bank’s (SARB) Vision 2030 payments modernisation roadmap.
By creating the CRGO position, Ozow is aligning itself with these industry trends and positioning risk and governance as strategic enablers rather than constraints.
This move reflects a broader industry recognition that robust risk frameworks build consumer and merchant trust — the foundation for long-term adoption of digital payments.
By creating the CRGO position, Ozow is aligning itself with these industry trends and positioning risk and governance as strategic enablers rather than constraints.
This move reflects a broader industry recognition that robust risk frameworks build consumer and merchant trust — the foundation for long-term adoption of digital payments.
Tendi Nyathi: A Decade of Fintech and Regulatory Expertise
With more than ten years of experience spanning law, regulation, and financial services, Tendi Nyathi has been instrumental in Ozow’s growth and its ongoing engagement with regulators and industry bodies such as the Payments Association of South Africa (PASA).
In her new role as Chief Risk and Governance Officer, Nyathi will:
Nyathi also advocates repositioning risk as a catalyst for faster, smarter innovation:
In her new role as Chief Risk and Governance Officer, Nyathi will:
- Embed risk-aware decision-making across all product development cycles.
- Strengthen compliance structures.
- Lead regulatory strategy and licensing efforts.
- Drive a unified, enterprise-wide risk and governance framework.
“Regulation is evolving to focus less on what an institution is, and more on the activities it performs. That shift requires a much more integrated and strategic approach to risk and governance.”
She highlighted three key trends shaping South African fintech in 2026:- Implementation of activity-based regulatory frameworks.
- Heightened focus on fraud prevention.
- Continued emphasis on responsible financial inclusion.
Nyathi also advocates repositioning risk as a catalyst for faster, smarter innovation:
“If you don’t understand your boundaries, you can’t innovate effectively. Risk provides clarity – it allows teams to move faster because they understand the implications of their decisions upfront.”
Ozow’s Commitment to Trust, Resilience and Sustainable Growth
This leadership appointment forms part of Ozow’s internal cultural shift toward becoming a fully governance-led organisation.
By integrating risk considerations earlier in the product lifecycle, the company aims to ensure compliance and innovation advance in parallel — a best-practice approach that is gaining traction across the payments industry.
“Efficiency is important, but trust is what drives adoption,” Nyathi concluded. “The fintechs that succeed will be those that can demonstrate they understand and manage risk effectively and can communicate that to both consumers and merchants.”
As the South African payments ecosystem continues to evolve, Ozow’s investment in strategic risk capability signals its ambition to compete not only on speed and innovation but also on resilience, trust, and long-term sustainability.
By integrating risk considerations earlier in the product lifecycle, the company aims to ensure compliance and innovation advance in parallel — a best-practice approach that is gaining traction across the payments industry.
“Efficiency is important, but trust is what drives adoption,” Nyathi concluded. “The fintechs that succeed will be those that can demonstrate they understand and manage risk effectively and can communicate that to both consumers and merchants.”
As the South African payments ecosystem continues to evolve, Ozow’s investment in strategic risk capability signals its ambition to compete not only on speed and innovation but also on resilience, trust, and long-term sustainability.
About Ozow
- Ozow is a leading South African fintech company transforming the way consumers and businesses transact through innovative, seamless, and secure payment solutions.
- Founded in 2014, Ozow specialises in real-time digital payments, offering a comprehensive suite including Pay by Bank, Card Payments, PayShap Request, Instant Refunds, Payouts, and Cash Vouchers.
- Trusted by South Africa’s biggest brands, Ozow powers millions of effortless transactions every month, helping merchants reduce checkout friction, unlock growth, and improve financial accessibility.
- Ozow is a licensed System Operator and Third-Party Payment Provider with the Payments Association of South Africa (PASA) and maintains full regulatory compliance.