CRCraig RamavhoyaVerified
HR and Payroll Manager
Motor trade
South AfricaBloemfontein51 to 200 employees
South AfricaBloemfontein51 to 200 employees342 verified reviews
Every published review of Sage Pastel Payroll, unedited beyond length and clarity. Vendor responses are shown alongside the review they answer.
342 reviews match · page 21 of 35
CRCraig RamavhoyaVerified
HR and Payroll Manager
South AfricaBloemfontein51 to 200 employeesIt works. It is not enjoyable, but payroll rarely is. The largest pool of trained operators in the country. 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. Payslips are clear and employees understand them.
What does not
The reporting cannot break cost down by department. No bargaining council support.
TPThemba PretoriusVerified
Payroll Manager
South AfricaSandton51 to 200 employeesWe 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. 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
The largest pool of trained operators in the country. ETI is calculated on the sliding scale and shows its working. EMP201 and EMP501 submissions have been correct every period.
What does not
Reporting outside the statutory pack is thin.
YMYusuf MotaungVerified
HR and Payroll Manager
South AfricaRandburg500 plus employeesThe 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. I would recommend it to a business of our size without hesitation.
What works
Runs locally, so month end is not a connectivity risk. EMP201 and EMP501 submissions have been correct every period. 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.
TSTinyiko SegwapaVerified
Group Financial Manager
ZimbabweZimbabwe2 to 10 employeesThe 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. Worth the migration effort, which is not something I say often.
What works
The largest pool of trained operators in the country. BCEA leave accruals are right without configuration. Support answers in South African hours and understands the question.
What does not
Reporting outside the statutory pack is thin.
KZKhanyisile Zulu
Senior Payroll Consultant
South AfricaPolokwane201 to 500 employeesI 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. 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. BCEA leave accruals are right without configuration. Employee self service cut payslip queries almost to zero.
What does not
Reporting outside the statutory pack is thin.
MKMbali KannemeyerVerified
HR Director
South AfricaNelspruit51 to 200 employeesThe 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. 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. 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.
KVKabelo van der MerweVerified
Employment Equity Officer
South AfricaGeorge51 to 200 employeesIt was sold as suitable for wage staff. It is not. 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. The March year end process was poorly documented. Leave accruals did not follow BCEA rules.
Response from the vendor29 Apr 2025
Thank you for this. We recognise the pricing concern and would like to review your plan with you, as there may be a better fit for your usage. Our team will be in touch.
AEAshley ErasmusVerified
Payroll and Benefits Officer
South AfricaEast London51 to 200 employeesWe 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. 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
Strong multi company handling for practices. IRP5 files validated in e@syFile without a single rejection. The ACB file imports into our bank without a support call.
What does not
Reporting outside the statutory pack is thin.
KMKirsten MahlanguVerified
Payroll Manager
South AfricaKlerksdorp500 plus employeesThe 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. ETI is calculated on the sliding scale and shows its working. BCEA leave accruals are right without configuration.
What does not
Reporting outside the statutory pack is thin.
JSJames SteynVerified
Payroll Manager
South AfricaWitbank11 to 50 employeesI have run payroll on four different systems and this is the one I would choose again. 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
Strong multi company handling for practices. 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.