Built for Africa,
Backed by Global
Manufacturing
Since 2009, Cardz Group Africa (Pty) Ltd has been the bridge between world-class card manufacturing and Africa's demand for secure, reliable smart card solutions.
A continent that
needed its own
card manufacturer
The African smart card market has long been underserved. Banks relied on distant European suppliers with punishing lead times. Hotels imported key cards through multiple intermediaries. Government identity programmes stalled waiting for overseas production slots. The continent was paying premium prices for someone else's leftover capacity.
Cardzgroup Africa was established in 2009 to change that. Founded by Paddy Janneman — an industry veteran with deep roots in South African banking and card technology — and backed by Cardzgroup Ltd's Asian manufacturing operations, the company brought world-class card production directly to the African market.
The model is simple and powerful: manufacturer-direct pricing through Cardzgroup Ltd's production facilities in Asia — with Cardzgroup's own teams managing quality at every stage — combined with on-the-ground sales, technical support, and logistics from our Cape Town office. No unnecessary intermediaries. No delays. No compromises on quality.
As a Level 1 B-BBEE company with over fifteen years of experience, Cardzgroup Africa provides off-the-shelf and bespoke card solutions for diverse businesses in every vertical segment — from banking and hospitality to government, retail, and telecoms.
The people behind
the cards
Paddy Janneman
Paddy founded and runs Cardzgroup Africa from Cape Town. A veteran of the card industry since 1999, he brings unmatched depth of experience in card technology, banking infrastructure, and programme delivery across Southern Africa.
First National Bank (FNB)
18 years at one of South Africa's Big Four banks. His final role as National Roll-out Manager saw him lead the Smart card V-chip project — a nationwide migration that touched millions of cardholders.
Prism Payment Technologies
8 years spearheading GSM-related card projects, key material procurement, and accreditation processes for payment networks — work that sits at the critical intersection of telecoms, security, and financial services.
Backed by Cardzgroup Ltd
Cardzgroup Africa is backed by the full manufacturing capability of Cardzgroup Ltd, with production facilities in Asia and offices in Hong Kong and the United Kingdom. Founded by Scott Richardson and fellow industry veterans from Gemalto Europe, Cardzgroup Ltd is a 100% Western-owned card manufacturer with dedicated production teams overseeing every run — producing PVC, smart cards, RFID products, and SIM cards for clients worldwide.
Factory-Direct Supply Chain
Cardzgroup's own production teams manage every manufacturing run, which means Cardzgroup Africa can offer competitive pricing, rapid turnaround, and consistent quality — direct from the source.
International Reach
With operations spanning Asia, Europe, and Africa, the Cardzgroup network provides the global scale and local expertise that African clients need.
Four continents,
one mission
Cardzgroup Africa draws on the resources of Cardzgroup Ltd's international network. Cardzgroup Ltd's production facilities provide the manufacturing scale, while our Cape Town office provides the expertise, relationships, and market understanding that make the difference.
Hong Kong manages trade logistics and supply chain coordination. The UK office serves European partnerships. And our Cape Town team handles everything from technical consulting to last-mile delivery across the continent.
Cape Town, South Africa
Cardzgroup Africa Head OfficeHong Kong & Shenzhen
Manufacturing, Trade & LogisticsUnited Kingdom
European Operations
What drives us
every day
African-First Thinking
Every product decision starts with Africa's unique infrastructure, climate, and market realities. We don't adapt global solutions — we build for the continent from day one.
Uncompromising Quality
Rigorous quality control at every stage of production. Our cards meet the exacting standards that African banks, hotels, and government agencies demand.
Long-Term Partnerships
We measure success not in transactions but in relationships. Our earliest African clients remain our closest partners, growing alongside us over the years.
Manufacturer-Direct Value
Direct access to Cardzgroup Ltd's production facilities means premium quality at competitive prices, with no intermediaries adding cost or delay.
Quality you can
depend on
In the card industry, quality is non-negotiable. A single defective batch can shut down a bank's card issuance programme or lock guests out of hotel rooms. That's why rigorous quality control governs every stage of our production process.
Every card we supply — whether a contactless bank card, an RFID hotel key, or an identity document — undergoes quality inspection from raw material sourcing through to final personalisation and packaging. Cardzgroup production teams operate to international standards at every facility, and our Cape Town team inspects every shipment before it reaches your hands.
Level 1 B-BBEE
Verified Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment contributor — the highest level of compliance
Factory-Direct
Manufacturer-direct supply through Cardzgroup Ltd's own production operations — no intermediaries
Quality Controlled
Multi-stage quality inspection from raw materials through to finished, personalised product
Pan-African Delivery
Established logistics partnerships for reliable delivery across Sub-Saharan Africa
A decade of building
Africa's card infrastructure
Cardzgroup Africa Established
Cardz Group Africa (Pty) Ltd opens its first South African office in Johannesburg, bringing Cardzgroup Ltd's manufacturing capabilities directly to the African market.
Major Loyalty & Banking Wins
Secured multi-million card supply agreements with South African loyalty programmes and banking institutions, establishing CGA as a serious player in the market.
MasterCard Production Milestone
Won a 1 million MasterCard-branded card order for a South African pension project, including full graphical personalisation and encoding.
Growing Pan-African Reach
Expanded distribution across Sub-Saharan Africa, exhibiting at Digital ID World Africa in Johannesburg and supplying hotel key cards, loyalty programmes, and access control solutions.
Cape Town Headquarters
Relocated primary operations to Cape Town's Airport Industria, establishing the current head office and strengthening Western Cape presence. Recognised as a Level 1 B-BBEE contributor.
15 Years of Delivery
Fifteen years of supplying smart card solutions across Africa, with a growing client base spanning banking, hospitality, government, retail, and telecoms sectors.
Ready to partner with
Africa's card experts?
Whether you're a bank preparing an EMV migration, a hotel group rolling out new key cards, or a government launching an identity programme — we have the capacity, certifications, and continental expertise to deliver.