Announcing Paystack's Pilot in South Africa

Businesses in South Africa can now accept payments online using Paystack.

paystack people smiling

Weโ€™re excited to kick off our pilot in South Africa, and bring Paystack to even more ambitious brands and businesses across the continent.

Our goal is to help businesses in Africa accept payments from anyone, anywhere in the world. This is why we're thrilled by the opportunity to help brands of all sizes in South Africa connect with customers everywhere, and access the business growth tools they need to compete globally and win!

Shareable Takeaway
๐Ÿ‡ฟ๐Ÿ‡ฆ Paystack has kicked off a pilot in South Africa, and more businesses on the continent can now accept payments using Paystack.

We'd like to say a big thank you to the business owners and developers who've worked closely with us over the last many months to better understand the needs of South African makers. It's still early days, so there are still a few rough edges, but we're thrilled by the early results and excited to open our doors to more businesses who are eager to take Paystack for a spin.

In the months leading up to this pilot, we partnered with several local businesses, built out a team on the ground, and worked with developer communities to deepen our understanding of your needs. And now during the pilot phase, we'll continue to refine the payment experience, introduce more payment channels, and optimise our free business tools to support incredible growth for South African businesses. We're really looking forward to your early feedback as we continue to listen, learn, and build.

To get started with Paystack in South Africa, simply create an account, and join the Pilot waitlist โ€” it's free, and it only takes a few minutes.

Create your Paystack account, and join the pilot waitlist

Join over 60,000 businesses of all sizes, from entrepreneurs such as Bo-Op and When We Traveled, to large corporates such as MTN, and SPAR, who accept payments using Paystack.

Create a free account โ†’

What's in the box?

When you create your free Paystack account today, you have immediate access to the following tools:

  • A robust lineup of plugins to ecommerce platforms, such as WordPress, Shopify, WooCommerce, Wix, and lots more. See our full list of plugins here
  • Well-documented APIs, libraries, and SDKs to help you build custom payment experiences
  • Simple, powerful seller tools to help you bring your ideas to market beautifully
  • A comprehensive Dashboard to track your business' performance
  • Automated recurring billing
  • Advanced fraud detection, and lots more

Common Questions

How do I join the South Africa pilot?

Visit paystack.com/signup to create your free Paystack account, and follow the step-by-step instructions on your screen. It only takes a few minutes.

Can I use Paystack if I don't have a website?

Yes, you don't need to already have a website in order to use Paystack. Thousands of businesses use our free seller tools to create an online presence for their brands and accept payments. Learn more about Paystack Commerce here.

What documents do I need to create my free Paystack account?

To create your free Paystack account for a registered business, you'll need to upload scanned copies of the following documents:

  • Personal ID (such as your passport or national ID card)
  • Business registration documents
  • Proof of your address (from your utility bills or bank statement)
  • A corporate bank account registered to your business

If you're an individual business owner without a registered business, you'll need to upload scanned copies of the following documents:

  • Personal ID (such as your passport or national ID card)
  • A bank account that matches your name
  • Proof of your address (from your utility bills or bank statement)

How long will it take to go live after I create my Paystack account?

After you create your Paystack account you'll immediately have access to a test environment where you can kick the tires on the platform, but you'll need to submit an activation request - and be approved - before you will be able to collect real payments.

After you submit your activation request, we'll place you on the pilot waitlist. We'll then review this waitlist every two weeks, and enable a small number of merchants to start accepting payments with Paystack after each review cycle.

After the pilot phase, go-live will be a lot faster, and it won't take this long at all.

How long does it take to receive my money after customers pay?

During the pilot phase, it'll take seven working days after a customer pays before you receive your payout. After the pilot phase, however, the time it takes to receive your payouts will be significantly reduced.

Can a non-South Africa based business sign up for the South Africa pilot?

As long as your business has all the required documents issued by the South African government, you can sign up for the Paystack pilot in South Africa.

How much does it cost to collect payments with Paystack in South Africa?

We charge a small fee of 2.9% + R1.00 excluding VAT per transaction - for both local and international transactions. Please note that this price will be updated after the pilot phase.

What currencies are supported for collection and payouts?

South African merchants can collect payments, and get settled, in Rand. Please note that customers from anywhere in the world will be able to pay you, but the price will be displayed in Rand, and you will receive the payout in Rand.

Which payment channels does Paystack support in South Africa?

South African merchants can currently accept payments from Visa, Mastercard, and American Express cards. We'll be adding additional payment channels soon, such as EFT.

I'm not in South Africa. When is Paystack coming to my country?

We're expanding all over Africa โ€” share your email address with us here to find out as soon as we're live in your country!

Need any help?

Do you have more questions about Paystack's pilot in South Africa? Send us an email at [email protected] โ€” weโ€™re happy to hear from you! โค๏ธโœจ

Announcing Paystack's Pilot in South Africa - The Paystack Blog Announcing Paystack's Pilot in South Africa - The Paystack Blog