In short: A standard interbank EFT sent on Saturday, Sunday or a public holiday should not be treated as a same-weekend arrival. The Payments Association of South Africa (PASA) says EFT credits are batched and typically show later that day or a day or two later. RTC clears within 60 seconds, with a published maximum of R250 000 on weeknights, weekends and public holidays (banks may set lower). PayShap / rapid payments are real-time style — confirm 24/7 availability, fees and limits with participating banks. Same-bank transfers are often faster; check your app. Not financial advice.
Sources: PASA — Credit Payments.
Weekend routes at a glance
- Standard EFT: Batched credit. PASA: successful instructions typically reflect later that day or a day or two later. Weekend and public-holiday EFTs wait for the next business processing window — do not promise the recipient a Saturday or Sunday credit.
- RTC / Immediate payment: PASA: cleared within 60 seconds, funds available in the receiver’s account. Scheme maximum R5 million daytime weekdays (after midnight until 16:00, excluding public holidays); R250 000 on weeknights, weekends and public holidays. Individual banks may apply lower limits.
- PayShap / Rapid Payment: PASA describes PayShap as a real-time credit using account details or a proxy such as a mobile number (ShapID). Confirm whether your bank offers it around the clock, plus the fee and limit shown in-app before you pay.
- Same-bank transfer: Often faster than an interbank EFT because it stays on one bank’s books — still confirm status and timing in that bank’s official channel.
What PASA actually says about EFT, RTC and PayShap
PASA separates electronic credit into low-value (retail) systems — EFT credit, RTC and Rapid Payment / PayShap — and high-value settlement above R5 million on SAMOS. For everyday transfers:
- EFT credits are “batched/bulked” and “are not instantaneous”. Settlement follows the service level selected (same day, one day or two days).
- RTC is an irrevocable interbank credit cleared within 60 seconds. The overnight / weekend / public-holiday cap exists to manage settlement exposure.
- PayShap (launched March 2023 on the Rapid Payments platform) enables real-time credit; Request to Pay followed later. PASA’s credit-payments page does not publish a second-by-second consumer countdown for PayShap the way it does for RTC.
PASA also states that a credit payment is final and irrevocable — check the beneficiary account number before you confirm.
What to confirm in your banking app
This guide does not publish a fake per-bank cut-off table. Cut-offs, product names (Immediate, Instant, PayShap) and fees differ by bank and change. Read the timing and fee on your confirmation screen. For bank-pair examples, see Absa to Capitec and Standard Bank to Capitec.
If money has not arrived
- Check the payment status and balance in the sending bank’s official app or statement.
- Confirm the rail (EFT vs RTC / Immediate vs PayShap) and the beneficiary account number.
- Do not send the payment again simply because it has not reflected — that can create a double credit once batches clear.
- If still stuck after the expected window for that rail, use both banks’ official support with the reference. Walkthrough: money sent but not received.
Related: How long do SA bank transfers take?
Last checked: September 2026 against PASA Credit Payments. Bank apps may label products differently and may set lower RTC or PayShap limits than the scheme maximum. Confirm in your bank before you send. Not financial advice.