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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 2 of 35

WM

Willem Mabaso

Chief Operating Officer

Professional consultingSouth AfricaRustenburg11 to 50 employees
5.0
10 Jul 2026

Our IRP5 files validated in e@syFile first time

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. If you are weighing it up, do the trial with your own data and you will see it.

What works

Strong multi company handling for practices. The ACB file imports into our bank without a support call. Support answers in South African hours and understands the question.

What does not

The interface takes a while for a new administrator.

Used for 1 to 2 years
YB

Yashika BaloyiVerified

HR and Payroll Manager

EngineeringSouth AfricaMidrand500 plus employees
5.0
10 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. 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

Runs locally, so month end is not a connectivity risk. The ACB file imports into our bank without a support call. Employee self service cut payslip queries almost to zero.

What does not

The interface takes a while for a new administrator.

Used for 6 to 12 months
RD

Rendani du PlessisVerified

Wages Clerk

Motor tradeSouth AfricaBloemfontein500 plus employees
4.0
10 Jul 2026

Our IRP5 files validated in e@syFile first time

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. There are irritations, and none of them are the kind that make you look elsewhere. It is not perfect, and it is the right choice for us.

What works

Complete SARS statutory coverage, maintained for decades. IRP5 files validated in e@syFile without a single rejection. Support answers in South African hours and understands the question.

What does not

Reporting outside the statutory pack is thin.

Used for 2 to 5 years
KE

Karabo ErasmusVerified

HR Officer

ManufacturingSouth AfricaJohannesburg201 to 500 employees
5.0
09 Jul 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. If you are weighing it up, do the trial with your own data and you will see it.

What works

The largest pool of trained operators in the country. The ACB file imports into our bank without a support call. 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 6 to 12 months
MO

Michael OctoberVerified

Wages Clerk

Security servicesSouth AfricaCape Town2 to 10 employees
5.0
06 Jul 2026

EMP501 reconciliation took forty minutes

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

Runs locally, so month end is not a connectivity risk. Employee self service cut payslip queries almost to zero. 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 1 to 2 years
PM

Palesa MnisiVerified

Partner

Financial servicesSouth AfricaKimberley500 plus employees
4.0
06 Jul 2026

EMP501 reconciliation took forty minutes

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. If you are weighing it up, do the trial with your own data and you will see it.

What works

Strong multi company handling for practices. EMP201 and EMP501 submissions have been correct every period. 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 6 to 12 months
MR

Marlize RamaphosaVerified

Learning and Development Manager

AgricultureSouth AfricaGeorge11 to 50 employees
3.0
06 Jul 2026

Fine for salaried staff, weak on wages

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

Runs locally, so month end is not a connectivity risk. Payslips are clear and employees understand them.

What does not

Wage and shift payroll is weaker than salaried. Support queues get long towards month end.

Used for 2 to 5 years
RM

Rendani Maleka

General Manager

EducationSouth AfricaNelspruit201 to 500 employees
5.0
05 Jul 2026

Our IRP5 files validated in e@syFile first time

I have run payroll on four different systems and this is the one I would choose again. 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

The largest pool of trained operators in the country. ETI is calculated on the sliding scale and shows its working. IRP5 files validated in e@syFile without a single rejection.

What does not

Reporting outside the statutory pack is thin.

Used for 1 to 2 years
CN

Chantelle NelVerified

Financial Controller

Property and real estateSouth AfricaMidrand500 plus employees
2.0
05 Jul 2026

Bargaining council rules were never supported properly

We had to rebuild two EMP501 submissions by hand. In practice, 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. It may suit a simpler business than ours.

What works

It is cheaper than the alternatives.

What does not

Support could not explain their own statutory outputs. Leave accruals did not follow BCEA rules. ETI required manual correction for months.

Used for less than 6 months
AZ

Achmat ZwaneVerified

HR and Payroll Manager

InsuranceSouth AfricaCape TownSole trader
5.0
02 Jul 2026

Three tax year ends without a single correction

We run about ninety staff on this and it has not missed a submission. 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. 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 more than 5 years
Previous123...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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