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  1. Home
  2. Software
  3. Sage Pastel Payroll
  4. Reviews

342 verified reviews

Sage Pastel Payroll reviews

Every published review of Sage Pastel Payroll, unedited beyond length and clarity. Vendor responses are shown alongside the review they answer.

Write a review

342 reviews match · page 1 of 35

JM

Johan Mnisi

Partner

AccountingSouth AfricaRustenburg2 to 10 employees
5.0
15 Jul 2026

ETI calculated correctly, with the working shown

The tax year end is what convinced me. Nothing broke. Complete SARS statutory coverage, maintained for decades. That is the part that genuinely changed how we work. Nothing has come up in the last year that I would call a real problem. It is not perfect, and it is the right choice for us.

What works

Runs locally, so month end is not a connectivity risk. The ACB file imports into our bank without a support call. ETI is calculated on the sliding scale and shows its working.

What does not

The interface takes a while for a new administrator.

Used for less than 6 months
MS

Megan SegwapaVerified

Senior Payroll Consultant

Information technologySouth AfricaNelspruit201 to 500 employees
5.0
15 Jul 2026

EMP501 reconciliation took forty minutes

I have run payroll on four different systems and this is the one I would choose again. Complete SARS statutory coverage, maintained for decades. That is the part that genuinely changed how we work. Nothing has come up in the last year that I would call a real problem. Worth the migration effort, which is not something I say often.

What works

Strong multi company handling for practices. Employee self service cut payslip queries almost to zero. EMP201 and EMP501 submissions have been correct every period.

What does not

The interface takes a while for a new administrator.

Used for 2 to 5 years
DB

David BaloyiVerified

Financial Director

Property and real estateSouth AfricaGqeberhaSole trader
5.0
15 Jul 2026

Three tax year ends without a single correction

I have run payroll on four different systems and this is the one I would choose again. Strong multi company handling for practices. That is the part that genuinely changed how we work. Nothing has come up in the last year that I would call a real problem. I would recommend it to a business of our size without hesitation.

What works

The largest pool of trained operators in the country. Employee self service cut payslip queries almost to zero. The ACB file imports into our bank without a support call.

What does not

There is no real HR functionality, so we run a second system.

Used for 1 to 2 years
KR

Karabo ReddyVerified

HR Business Partner

Information technologySouth AfricaRichards Bay2 to 10 employees
5.0
15 Jul 2026

Our IRP5 files validated in e@syFile first time

The tax year end is what convinced me. Nothing broke. Complete SARS statutory coverage, maintained for decades. That is the part that genuinely changed how we work. Nothing has come up in the last year that I would call a real problem. If you are weighing it up, do the trial with your own data and you will see it.

What works

Runs locally, so month end is not a connectivity risk. IRP5 files validated in e@syFile without a single rejection. Support answers in South African hours and understands the question.

What does not

The interface takes a while for a new administrator.

Used for 2 to 5 years
CH

Charmaine HlungwaniVerified

HR Business Partner

InsuranceSouth AfricaSandton500 plus employees
5.0
14 Jul 2026

Three tax year ends without a single correction

The tax year end is what convinced me. Nothing broke. Runs locally, so month end is not a connectivity risk. That is the part that genuinely changed how we work. Nothing has come up in the last year that I would call a real problem. If you are weighing it up, do the trial with your own data and you will see it.

What works

Runs locally, so month end is not a connectivity risk. EMP201 and EMP501 submissions have been correct every period. IRP5 files validated in e@syFile without a single rejection.

What does not

There is no real HR functionality, so we run a second system.

Used for less than 6 months
KN

Kirsten NelVerified

Financial Director

Logistics and transportSouth AfricaGqeberhaSole trader
3.0
14 Jul 2026

Good product, frustrating support queue

We use maybe sixty percent of what we pay for. Complete SARS statutory coverage, maintained for decades. Beyond that it is more ordinary than the marketing suggests. It sits squarely in the middle for us, useful but not something I would champion. Fine for our needs. Test it properly against your own requirements.

What works

The largest pool of trained operators in the country. Statutory outputs are correct.

What does not

Support queues get long towards month end. No bargaining council support.

Used for 2 to 5 years
KH

Kavitha HlungwaniVerified

Payroll and Benefits Officer

Financial servicesSouth AfricaSomerset West51 to 200 employees
2.0
14 Jul 2026

ETI was calculated wrong for eight months

The compliance errors were the problem, and they took too long to acknowledge. The thing worth knowing is that the parts we were sold on never worked the way they were demonstrated. The gaps are the kind that create work rather than save it. I would look elsewhere unless price is the only consideration.

What works

It is cheaper than the alternatives.

What does not

The March year end process was poorly documented. Leave accruals did not follow BCEA rules. Support could not explain their own statutory outputs.

Used for more than 5 years
BA

Buhle Abrahams

Senior Payroll Consultant

Property and real estateSouth AfricaCenturion51 to 200 employees
4.0
13 Jul 2026

Payroll stopped being the worst week of the month

The tax year end is what convinced me. Nothing broke. Runs locally, so month end is not a connectivity risk. That is the part that genuinely changed how we work. There are irritations, and none of them are the kind that make you look elsewhere. Two years in and nobody has suggested we look at alternatives.

What works

Runs locally, so month end is not a connectivity risk. The ACB file imports into our bank without a support call. ETI is calculated on the sliding scale and shows its working.

What does not

Reporting outside the statutory pack is thin.

Used for more than 5 years
MC

Musa CeleVerified

HR and Payroll Manager

Food and beverageSouth AfricaBloemfontein500 plus employees
4.0
11 Jul 2026

Our IRP5 files validated in e@syFile first time

We run about ninety staff on this and it has not missed a submission. Runs locally, so month end is not a connectivity risk. That is the part that genuinely changed how we work. There are irritations, and none of them are the kind that make you look elsewhere. I would recommend it to a business of our size without hesitation.

What works

Strong multi company handling for practices. Employee self service cut payslip queries almost to zero. IRP5 files validated in e@syFile without a single rejection.

What does not

Reporting outside the statutory pack is thin.

Used for 2 to 5 years
NM

Nadia MahlanguVerified

General Manager

Legal servicesSouth AfricaPietermaritzburg11 to 50 employees
5.0
10 Jul 2026

Support actually understands South African payroll

We switched after our previous provider got an ETI calculation wrong. The largest pool of trained operators in the country. That is the part that genuinely changed how we work. Nothing has come up in the last year that I would call a real problem. I would recommend it to a business of our size without hesitation.

What works

The largest pool of trained operators in the country. IRP5 files validated in e@syFile without a single rejection. EMP201 and EMP501 submissions have been correct every period.

What does not

There is no real HR functionality, so we run a second system.

Used for 1 to 2 years
Previous12...35Next

3.9

Overall

from 342 reviews

72% positive19% neutral9% critical

Rating distribution

5
113 of 342
4
133 of 342
3
65 of 342
2
26 of 342
1
5 of 342

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