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 3 of 35

Thandiwe SegwapaVerified

Chief Executive Officer

Information technology

Rustenburg2 to 10 employees

5.0

02 Jul 2026

ETI calculated correctly, with the working shown

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. Two years in and nobody has suggested we look at alternatives.

What works

Runs locally, so month end is not a connectivity risk. ETI is calculated on the sliding scale and shows its working. EMP201 and EMP501 submissions have been correct every period.

What does not

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

Rhulani NetshitenzheVerified

Senior Payroll Consultant

Engineering

Somerset West2 to 10 employees

2.0

01 Jul 2026

Support could not explain their own UIF file

We had to rebuild two EMP501 submissions by hand. The honest position 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. We moved to an alternative and the difference was immediate.

What works

It is cheaper than the alternatives.

What does not

Leave accruals did not follow BCEA rules. The March year end process was poorly documented. ETI required manual correction for months.

Achmat MolefeVerified

Payroll Administrator

Construction

Cape TownSole trader

2.0

01 Jul 2026

ETI was calculated wrong for eight months

What works

The payslip layout is clean.

What does not

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

Tshepo NkosiVerified

Payroll Administrator

Healthcare

Richards Bay11 to 50 employees

5.0

29 Jun 2026

Three tax year ends without a single correction

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. BCEA leave accruals are right without configuration. 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.

Ashley MnisiVerified

Owner

Education

Somerset West51 to 200 employees

4.0

29 Jun 2026

Our IRP5 files validated in e@syFile first time

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. 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

The largest pool of trained operators in the country. The ACB file imports into our bank without a support call. BCEA leave accruals are right without configuration.

What does not

Reporting outside the statutory pack is thin.

Michael WindvogelVerified

Partner

Education

GeorgeSole trader

2.0

29 Jun 2026

Bargaining council rules were never supported properly

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

The payslip layout is clean.

What does not

ETI required manual correction for months. The March year end process was poorly documented. Support could not explain their own statutory outputs.

Rebecca KhumaloVerified

Owner

Healthcare

Gqeberha500 plus employees

5.0

28 Jun 2026

Leave finally follows the BCEA without a spreadsheet

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. It is not perfect, and it is the right choice for us.

What works

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

What does not

The interface takes a while for a new administrator.

Rhulani HendricksVerified

Chief Operating Officer

Motor trade

George500 plus employees

5.0

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

What works

Complete SARS statutory coverage, maintained for decades. The ACB file imports into our bank without a support call. BCEA leave accruals are right without configuration.

What does not

The interface takes a while for a new administrator.

Achmat NelVerified

Payroll Manager

Education

Paarl11 to 50 employees

5.0

26 Jun 2026

EMP501 reconciliation took forty minutes

We switched after our previous provider got an ETI calculation wrong. 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

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

The interface takes a while for a new administrator.

Andre MotaungVerified

HR Business Partner

Recruitment

Randburg2 to 10 employees

4.0

26 Jun 2026

EMP501 reconciliation took forty minutes

I 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. It is not perfect, and it is the right choice for us.

What works

Strong multi company handling for practices. EMP201 and EMP501 submissions have been correct every period. IRP5 files validated in e@syFile without a single rejection.

What does not

The interface takes a while for a new administrator.

342 verified reviews

What works

Strong multi company handling for practices. EMP201 and EMP501 submissions have been correct every period. IRP5 files validated in e@syFile without a single rejection.

What does not

The interface takes a while for a new administrator.