Practical money guides for South Africans
N N In short: An Absa payment to an FNB account is not one fixed clock. It depends on the rail you pick in the Absa app or online banking. The Payments Association of South Africa (PASA) says a standard EFT is batched and typically shows later that day or a day or two later; RTC (often … Read more
In short: Standard Bank’s cellphone banking (USSD) code is *120*2345#. If you’re out of airtime, dial *130*2345# to recharge. You need airtime (not data), a cellphone number linked to your Standard Bank account, and an active transactional account. It only works in South Africa. Help: 0860 123 000. Confirm on Standard Bank. Not financial advice. … Read more
In short: Capfin does not publish a separate “download my monthly statement” walkthrough in its public FAQ. To see what you owe, log into your Capfin profile at capfin.co.za/login with your 13-digit SA ID and the OTP sent to your registered cellphone, then open Your Active Loans / My loan account. For a settlement quote … Read more
In short: A Bank Zero payment into a Capitec account does not have one fixed clock. Timing depends on the rail, usually a batched EFT, or a paid immediate option where Bank Zero offers it. PASA: EFT credits typically show later that day or a day or two later; RTC clears within about 60 seconds; … Read more
UIF covers more than job loss and maternity. If you’re off work sick for an extended period, if you’ve legally adopted a young child, or if a contributor has died and left dependants behind, there are separate UIF benefits for each. Illness benefits kick in once your unpaid sick leave passes two weeks. Adoption benefits … Read more
If a domestic worker works more than 24 hours a month for you, whether they clean, cook, garden, or provide childcare, you’re legally required to register them for UIF. It doesn’t matter if you’re a company or just a household employing one person. The Department of Employment and Labour has been direct about this: “It’s … Read more
The UI-19 is the form your employer completes when your job ends, and it’s what proves to UIF why you’re unemployed. Without it, your claim generally doesn’t move forward. Your employer must complete and sign it, free of charge, when your employment ends, whether that’s retrenchment, dismissal, resignation, or a contract expiring. If your employer … Read more
UIF maternity benefits pay a flat 66% of your capped salary, tax-free, for up to 121 days, roughly four months. You apply once your maternity leave starts and you stop getting your full salary, not before. The legal deadline is six months after the birth, but apply as early as you can once your pay … Read more
If you resigned voluntarily, you generally cannot claim UIF unemployment benefits. If you were retrenched, dismissed for any reason including misconduct, or your fixed-term contract simply ended, you generally can. The one exception for resignation is constructive dismissal, where the CCMA agrees you were effectively forced out. UIF isn’t judging whether you deserved to lose … Read more
You can check your UIF status three ways: log in to UIF Online at uifonline.labour.gov.za, dial 134843# for a free USSD check, or call the UIF Call Centre on 0800 030 007. All three show the same underlying claim, so use whichever is easiest to reach right now. If you claimed before 20 May 2026 on … Read more