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 6 of 35

Phumzile NkunaVerified

HR Officer

Manufacturing

Randburg500 plus employees

5.0

04 Jun 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. I would recommend it to a business of our size without hesitation.

What works

Runs locally, so month end is not a connectivity risk. Support answers in South African hours and understands the question. EMP201 and EMP501 submissions have been correct every period.

What does not

The interface takes a while for a new administrator.

Michael RamaphosaVerified

HR and Payroll Manager

Logistics and transport

Bloemfontein2 to 10 employees

3.0

04 Jun 2026

Fine for salaried staff, weak on wages

It 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. Good value, with some real rough edges.

What works

Runs locally, so month end is not a connectivity risk. Per employee pricing is fair for a small team.

What does not

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

Riaan Ndlovu

Senior Payroll Consultant

Wholesale and distribution

Nelspruit201 to 500 employees

2.0

03 Jun 2026

Support could not explain their own UIF file

The compliance errors were the problem, and they took too long to acknowledge. 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. Test it hard during the trial with real volume before committing.

What works

It is cheaper than the alternatives.

What does not

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

Yashika Pillay

Payroll and Benefits Officer

Construction

Randburg11 to 50 employees

5.0

01 Jun 2026

Support actually understands South African payroll

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. 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. 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.

Neo NkosiVerified

Senior Payroll Consultant

Non profit

StellenboschSole trader

4.0

01 Jun 2026

Leave finally follows the BCEA without a spreadsheet

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

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.

Michelle NaidooVerified

Employment Equity Officer

Education

Gqeberha2 to 10 employees

5.0

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

What works

Complete SARS statutory coverage, maintained for decades. Support answers in South African hours and understands the question. EMP201 and EMP501 submissions have been correct every period.

What does not

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

Charmaine SeptemberVerified

Accountant

Marketing and advertising

Polokwane11 to 50 employees

5.0

30 May 2026

ETI calculated correctly, with the working shown

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. ETI is calculated on the sliding scale and shows its working.

What does not

The interface takes a while for a new administrator.

Chantelle MabundaVerified

Payroll and Benefits Officer

Retail

Richards Bay500 plus employees

4.0

28 May 2026

ETI calculated correctly, with the working shown

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. 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. 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

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

Andile ZuluVerified

Chief Operating Officer

Marketing and advertising

Cape Town2 to 10 employees

3.0

28 May 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

The largest pool of trained operators in the country. Payslips are clear and employees understand them.

What does not

No bargaining council support. The reporting cannot break cost down by department.

Kirsten MoodleyVerified

Owner

Telecommunications

Namibia500 plus employees

5.0

25 May 2026

EMP501 reconciliation took forty minutes

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

Strong multi company handling for practices. BCEA leave accruals are right without configuration. IRP5 files validated in e@syFile without a single rejection.

What does not

Reporting outside the statutory pack is thin.

342 verified reviews

What works

Strong multi company handling for practices. BCEA leave accruals are right without configuration. IRP5 files validated in e@syFile without a single rejection.

What does not

Reporting outside the statutory pack is thin.