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.

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342 reviews match · page 10 of 35

Gerhard MabasoVerified

Creditors Clerk

Marketing and advertising

Stellenbosch11 to 50 employees

5.0

11 Apr 2026

Leave finally follows the BCEA without a spreadsheet

The tax year end is what convinced me. Nothing broke. 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. Two years in and nobody has suggested we look at alternatives.

What works

Strong multi company handling for practices. Employee self service cut payslip queries almost to zero. ETI is calculated on the sliding scale and shows its working.

What does not

Reporting outside the statutory pack is thin.

Nicola PetersenVerified

Learning and Development Manager

Wholesale and distribution

Johannesburg500 plus employees

4.0

09 Apr 2026

Payroll stopped being the worst week of the month

The tax year end is what convinced me. Nothing broke. Strong multi company handling for practices. 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

The largest pool of trained operators in the country. Support answers in South African hours and understands the question. 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.

Lizelle ChaukeVerified

Payroll and Benefits Officer

Manufacturing

Somerset West2 to 10 employees

5.0

08 Apr 2026

Three tax year ends without a single correction

We run about ninety staff on this and it has not missed a submission. 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

The largest pool of trained operators in the country. BCEA leave accruals are right without configuration. Employee self service cut payslip queries almost to zero.

What does not

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

Jenna Chauke

Learning and Development Manager

Security services

Paarl51 to 200 employees

4.0

08 Apr 2026

Payroll stopped being the worst week of the month

We switched after our previous provider got an ETI calculation wrong. Strong multi company handling for practices. 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. ETI is calculated on the sliding scale and shows its working.

What does not

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

Pieter MaharajVerified

General Manager

Financial services

Klerksdorp2 to 10 employees

4.0

08 Apr 2026

Our IRP5 files validated in e@syFile first time

We switched after our previous provider got an ETI calculation wrong. Strong multi company handling for practices. 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. Worth the migration effort, which is not something I say often.

What works

Runs locally, so month end is not a connectivity risk. The ACB file imports into our bank without a support call. IRP5 files validated in e@syFile without a single rejection.

What does not

Reporting outside the statutory pack is thin.

Nokuthula ChettyVerified

Senior Payroll Consultant

Mining services

Gqeberha51 to 200 employees

3.0

06 Apr 2026

Fine for salaried staff, weak on wages

Compliance side is solid, the day to day is more of a slog than it should be. 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. Good value, with some real rough edges.

What works

Runs locally, so month end is not a connectivity risk. Statutory outputs are correct.

What does not

The reporting cannot break cost down by department. Support queues get long towards month end.

Nadia Pillay

Chief Executive Officer

Financial services

Cape Town500 plus employees

5.0

01 Apr 2026

Support actually understands South African payroll

We run about ninety staff on this and it has not missed a submission. 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. Worth the migration effort, which is not something I say often.

What works

Complete SARS statutory coverage, maintained for decades. 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.

Sanele Fletcher

Wages Clerk

Construction

Richards Bay2 to 10 employees

3.0

01 Apr 2026

Fine for salaried staff, weak on wages

Compliance side is solid, the day to day is more of a slog than it should be. Strong multi company handling for practices. 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. It is a reasonable choice, provided you know what it does not do.

What works

Runs locally, so month end is not a connectivity risk. Setup was straightforward.

What does not

The reporting cannot break cost down by department. Wage and shift payroll is weaker than salaried.

Refilwe FourieVerified

People Operations Lead

Professional consulting

Richards Bay11 to 50 employees

5.0

26 Mar 2026

Three tax year ends without a single correction

The tax year end is what convinced me. Nothing broke. 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. Two years in and nobody has suggested we look at alternatives.

What works

Strong multi company handling for practices. Employee self service cut payslip queries almost to zero. ETI is calculated on the sliding scale and shows its working.

What does not

The interface takes a while for a new administrator.

Charmaine RamavhoyaVerified

Payroll Manager

Legal services

Witbank2 to 10 employees

5.0

23 Mar 2026

Three tax year ends without a single correction

The tax year end is what convinced me. Nothing broke. 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. Worth the migration effort, which is not something I say often.

What works

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

What does not

Reporting outside the statutory pack is thin.

342 verified reviews

We switched after our previous provider got an ETI calculation wrong. Strong multi company handling for practices. 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. Worth the migration effort, which is not something I say often.

What works

Runs locally, so month end is not a connectivity risk. The ACB file imports into our bank without a support call. IRP5 files validated in e@syFile without a single rejection.

What does not

Reporting outside the statutory pack is thin.

Nokuthula ChettyVerified

Senior Payroll Consultant

Mining services

Gqeberha51 to 200 employees

3.0

06 Apr 2026

Fine for salaried staff, weak on wages

What works

Runs locally, so month end is not a connectivity risk. Statutory outputs are correct.

What does not

The reporting cannot break cost down by department. Support queues get long towards month end.

Nadia Pillay

Chief Executive Officer

Financial services

Cape Town500 plus employees

5.0

01 Apr 2026

Support actually understands South African payroll

What works

Complete SARS statutory coverage, maintained for decades. 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.

Sanele Fletcher

Wages Clerk

Construction

Richards Bay2 to 10 employees

3.0

01 Apr 2026

Fine for salaried staff, weak on wages

What works

Runs locally, so month end is not a connectivity risk. Setup was straightforward.

What does not

The reporting cannot break cost down by department. Wage and shift payroll is weaker than salaried.

Refilwe FourieVerified

People Operations Lead

Professional consulting

Richards Bay11 to 50 employees

5.0

26 Mar 2026

Three tax year ends without a single correction

What works

Strong multi company handling for practices. Employee self service cut payslip queries almost to zero. ETI is calculated on the sliding scale and shows its working.

What does not

The interface takes a while for a new administrator.

Charmaine RamavhoyaVerified

Payroll Manager

Legal services

Witbank2 to 10 employees

5.0

23 Mar 2026

Three tax year ends without a single correction

The tax year end is what convinced me. Nothing broke. 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. Worth the migration effort, which is not something I say often.

What works

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

What does not

Reporting outside the statutory pack is thin.