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On July 27, 2026, the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) formally announced the introduction of the Angolan kwanza as a settlement currency in the Southern African Development Community real-time gross settlement (SADC-RTGS) system. Lesetja Kganyago, Governor of the SARB and Chairperson of the SADC Committee of Central Bank Governors (CCBG), and Manuel Tiago Dias, Governor of the Banco Nacional de Angola, made the joint announcement to support regional payments modernisation efforts. The kwanza becomes the second settlement currency in the SADC-RTGS system, which has exclusively settled transactions in South African rand since its inception in 2013. The system currently includes 15 participating countries. The introduction aligns with Group of Twenty (G20) cross-border payment goals of reducing costs, increasing speed and improving efficiency in cross-border transactions. By enabling direct settlement in kwanza, participants transacting in the currency can reduce foreign exchange conversion requirements, thereby lowering transaction costs for participants and their customers. The multi-currency capability strengthens regional financial integration, promotes greater use of local and regional currencies in cross-border trade and reduces reliance on non-SADC currencies. The SARB intends to onboard additional regional currencies, such as the Botswana pula, in due course. A more diverse set of settlement currencies makes it easier for businesses and customers to transact across SADC countries in local currencies, while faster settlement helps businesses manage cash flow more efficiently and access funds more quickly when trading across the region. The SARB has also noted an increase in cross-border payment facilitator activities in the region, reflecting growing demand for enhanced payment infrastructure and services across SADC member states.