In short: The only reliable way to confirm someone paid you by EFT in South Africa is to check your own bank app, online banking or statement for a cleared credit. Screenshots and “proof of payment” images can be faked. PASA describes standard EFT credits as batched (same day, one day or two days depending on the service level), RTC as clearing within about 60 seconds, and PayShap as a real-time rail. Pending versus available balance can differ by bank and product. Do not treat any third-party clock as a promise. Not financial advice.
Sources: PASA Credit Payments; each bank’s official app or online banking help for notifications and statements; National Financial Ombud.
What “paid” must mean
Money is paid when your account shows a successful incoming credit for the agreed amount and reference, and the funds are available under your bank’s rules. A WhatsApp picture of another person’s screen is not settlement. Ask buyers to wait until you confirm in your own channel before you release goods or services.
Rails (themes only; confirm live)
- Standard EFT credit: PASA: batched instructions that typically reflect later that day or one or two days later, depending on the service level selected.
- RTC (real-time clearing): PASA: interbank credit cleared within 60 seconds, with scheme maximums and possible lower bank limits.
- PayShap (rapid payments): PASA: real-time credit using account details or proxy (for example ShapID). Bank menus and daily limits differ.
Weekends and public holidays can push batched EFTs into the next processing window. For tracking a payment that still shows as pending, see pending EFT on Absa, Capitec or FNB and the bank transfer times hub.
How to check on major bank apps (labels change)
Open the official bank app or website yourself. Never use a login link from a message.
- Capitec: Log in, check home balance, then transaction history for the credit, payer name or reference.
- FNB: Log in, open the account, view transactions or payment history, match amount and reference.
- Absa: Log in, select the account, review transaction history for the incoming credit.
- Standard Bank: Log in, open the account, view all transactions, match date, amount and reference.
- Nedbank: Log in to the Money app or online banking, open the account, check transaction history.
Turn on push or SMS alerts in the bank’s official settings if offered. Alerts help you notice a credit; they still do not replace opening the statement line yourself.
Pending vs cleared
Some banks show an item as pending, processing or not yet available while the rail settles or risk checks run. Treat “pending” as not yet safe to release goods. If the payer insists the money left their account but you see nothing after a reasonable wait for that rail, ask them for the bank reference from their successful debit, then contact your bank through published channels to ask whether a credit is in suspense. Wrong account numbers are a separate recovery problem for the payer’s bank.
Fake proof of payment
- Never accept a screenshot as final proof.
- Match amount, reference, date and available balance in your own app.
- Be wary of urgency, blurred logos, odd fonts or pressure to release stock the same hour.
- Prefer RTC or PayShap when you need faster confirmation, then still verify in your app.
If nothing arrives
- Confirm how long it has been and which rail the payer used.
- Re-check your account number and bank name with the payer.
- Ask them to show a successful debit in their own banking (video call or in person), not only a cropped image.
- If their bank confirms a successful send and you still have no credit, both of you should use official bank contact paths with the reference.
Last checked: September 2026 against PASA Credit Payments (EFT batching, RTC within 60 seconds, PayShap real-time) and major-bank app checking themes. Exact menus and notification options change. Confirm in your bank. Not financial advice.