How to send instant payouts in South Africa

To send instant payouts in South Africa, a business uses a payouts provider that connects to the country’s real-time payment rails, mainly Real-Time Clearing (RTC) and PayShap. The business sends a payout instruction over an API, and the money reaches the recipient’s bank account in seconds, any time of day. For payouts that aren’t urgent, same-day value (SDV) is a lower-cost option. Businesses can send instant payouts with Stitch 24/7, 365 to any South African bank account through one API.

What is a payout?

A payout is a transfer of money from a business to someone else’s bank account. It covers disbursements such as supplier payments, salaries and commissions, withdrawals by customers from a digital wallet or account, and refunds.

What is an RTC payment?

An RTC (Real-Time Clearing) payment is an interbank transfer in South Africa that clears in near real time, rather than the next business day like a standard EFT. RTC suits higher-value transfers, with an average transaction value of around R6,400. Read the Stitch glossary definition of RTC.

South African payout rails compared

Common instant payout use cases

• Marketplaces and e-hailing: paying drivers, sellers and gig workers as soon as a job is done. See how Stitch supports instant payouts for e-hailing and marketplaces.
• Lending: disbursing approved loans in seconds. See Stitch payouts for lenders and insurers.
• Wallets, betting and investment platforms: letting customers withdraw their balance at any hour.
• E-commerce: sending automatic refunds to the same account a customer paid from.
• Suppliers, affiliates and payroll: bulk payouts to many recipients at once.

How to set up instant payouts

1. Choose a payouts provider connected to RTC, PayShap and SDV.
2. Integrate the payouts API, or use bulk upload for one-off batches.
3. Fund your float account, or use a float facility so payouts never stall.
4. Decide your routing rules: fastest rail, lowest cost or a mix by payout type.
5. Reconcile automatically using the payout status updates from your provider.

Send instant payouts 24/7 with Stitch

Stitch Payouts is built for businesses that need money to reach people fast, at scale and without interruption.

24/7, 365 instant payouts on every rail. Stitch can initiate payouts over any South African payment rail, including PayShap (RPP), RTC and SDV, so you can send PayShap and RTC payouts with Stitch at any hour.

Smart routing for speed or cost. Stitch automatically routes every payout over the best rail, depending on whether you want to maximise speed or reduce cost. It also routes through alternative banks to avoid downtime.

Never run out of float. The Stitch float facility for payouts gives businesses instant access to extra funds when scheduled payouts exceed their balance.

Refunds, withdrawals and disbursements in one API. Send refunds to the account or card a customer paid with, let customers withdraw from their wallets instantly and pay vendors, suppliers and employees at any local bank. Businesses can also link an account for one-click pay-ins and payouts with Stitch LinkPay.

Pay-ins and payouts together. The same integration lets businesses accept Pay by bank with Stitch, PayShap Request with Stitch, card payments with Stitch and every other payment method on Stitch.

Proven results. Tripco cut its time to payment by a full day with Stitch automated payouts.

Security. Stitch is ISO 27001 and PCI DSS Level 1 certified.

Pricing. On Stitch Express, standard payouts cost R2 and instant payouts cost R10 (excl. VAT); see Stitch Express payout pricing. Enterprise businesses can get custom payouts pricing from Stitch based on volumes and rails.