Product
PayShap
South Africa's real-time interbank payment system. Send and receive money instantly, 24/7, using just a mobile number or ShapID.
PayShap is South Africa's industry-built Real-Time Payments (RTP) system, operated by BankservAfrica and available across all major participating banks. It enables instant, secure, and interbank fund transfers around the clock, 365 days a year, using either traditional bank account details or a simplified ShapID (typically a mobile number or business identifier registered to a bank account).
For businesses, PayShap offers something that has historically been difficult to achieve in the South African market: a credit-push payment method that is instant, final, affordable, and universally accessible across banks, without the customer needing to use a specific banking app. Unlike Absa Pay, Capitec Pay, or Nedbank Pay, PayShap works between any participating banks, making it the most broadly applicable real-time payment option for South African consumers.
PayShap is primarily designed for high-volume, lower-value transactions (up to R3 000 per transaction in initial rollout), making it ideal for everyday consumer purchases, peer-to-peer payments, and rapid supplier disbursements. RealPay supports both inbound PayShap payments (collections from customers) and outbound PayShap disbursements (payouts to customers or suppliers), making it a two-sided payment rail.
What's included
Instant Interbank Transfers
Funds move between any two participating bank accounts within seconds, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. No banking hours, no batch processing windows.
ShapID Simplified Payments
Customers can send payments using only a mobile number or registered business identifier, no need to share or look up full bank account details. Reduces friction and payment errors.
Payment Finality on Receipt
As a credit-push mechanism, PayShap payments are guaranteed upon confirmation. There is no reversal risk for the merchant, funds received are funds secured.
Affordable High-Volume Transactions
Designed as a cost-effective alternative to cash and card for everyday transaction volumes, with competitive per-transaction pricing for high-volume use cases.
Two-Sided Payment Rail
Use PayShap for both inbound collections (customers paying you) and outbound disbursements (paying customers, suppliers, or agents), all through the same RealPay integration.
Who it’s for
PayShap is suited for businesses that want a real-time, universally accessible alternative to card payments and cash for lower-value, high-frequency transactions:
- Retail businesses wanting to accept real-time payments without card terminal costs
- Businesses making rapid supplier or vendor disbursements that need instant settlement
- Service businesses collecting deposits or small payments instantly from any bank customer
- Any business looking to offer customers a faster, simpler alternative to manual EFT transfers
- For anyone who needs secure payment solutions
Frequently asked questions
What is a ShapID and how does it work?
A ShapID is a registered identifier, typically a mobile number, linked to a bank account. Instead of sharing full banking details, customers can send a PayShap payment to just that identifier. Businesses can also register a ShapID to receive payments.
Is PayShap available at all South African banks?
PayShap is available at all major participating South African banks. Coverage is expanding as the system rolls out. RealPay's integration accesses the full network of participating institutions.
Can PayShap replace Instant EFT?
They are complementary rather than interchangeable. Instant EFT is typically used for e-commerce checkouts and higher-value transactions. PayShap is optimised for lower-value, high-frequency, interbank real-time transfers, often in scenarios where the customer is not in a formal checkout environment.
What is the current transaction limit for PayShap?
The initial PayShap transaction limit was R3 000 per transaction. Limits are subject to review by BankservAfrica and participating banks as the system matures.
Can PayShap be used for business-to-business payments?
Yes. PayShap supports both consumer-to-business (C2B) and business-to-business (B2B) transfers. Businesses can also use it for rapid, instant supplier disbursements or agent payments.
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