Market guide · Africa
Selling in South Africa
South Africa has the most developed card market on the continent, and instant EFT payments are widely used online. Delivery reliability is a frequent concern for shoppers buying from abroad.
| Currency | South African rand (ZAR) |
|---|---|
| Languages | English, Zulu, Afrikaans, Xhosa |
| Region | Africa |
| Local acquiring | Available |
| Settlement | T+2 |
| Payout rail | PayShap / EFT · Seconds to next day |
| Import consumption tax | VAT · 15% |
Popular payment methods
Share of online payments by method. Illustrative figures.
| Visa, Mastercard, Amex | 65% (65% of online payments) |
|---|---|
| Apple Pay | 7% (7% of online payments) |
| PayPal | 6% (6% of online payments) |
How to launch in South Africa
- 1Open a sandbox accountTest every flow for South Africa with test cards and methods before you sign anything.
- 2Turn on local methodsStart with Apple Pay, PayPal.
- 3Process domesticallyDomestic processing in South Africa avoids cross-border fees and lifts approval rates.
- 4Settle in ZARHold ZAR and convert when you choose, or pay out locally.
- 5Show duty-inclusive pricesQuote VAT and duties at checkout so nothing is due on delivery.
- 6Go liveVerify your business, switch your keys and watch the first orders arrive.
Duties and import tax
VAT at 15% applies to most imported goods.
Thresholds: Low-value parcels attract a flat customs rate
Regulatory notes
- Foreign electronic service suppliers above a turnover threshold must register for VAT.
- Exchange control rules from the South African Reserve Bank apply to cross-border flows.
Placeholder notes for the prototype, not legal advice.
Customer story nearby
Ferrous Pay
Fintech
4
card programmes launched in 18 months · Illustrative
We wanted to build the product, not the plumbing. Issuing and settlement in one place let us do that.
Chidi Okafor, Chief Product Officer Read the story: Ferrous Pay
Launch in South Africa
Try the South Africa flow in the sandbox, or talk to us about your rollout.