The verdict in three sentences
In Johannesburg in 2026, taking payment by card (~2.6 %) costs 2 to 3 times more than by instant EFT (~1 %). But cards capture the diaspora and international buyers that local rails don't reach. The right question isn't "card OR account-based", but which mix for your actual audience.
Cost-per-method table in Johannesburg, 2026
2026 order-of-magnitude rates. Card rates include interchange, network and aggregator.
| Method | Fee | Flat fee | Failure rate | Key audience |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Card (Visa/Mastercard) | ~2.6 % | +ZAR 1.00 | 8-14 % | Diaspora, international |
| Instant EFT | ~1.0 % | 0 | 5-9 % | Local, urban |
| Bank pay-by-link | ~1.2 % | 0 | 6-10 % | Local, mid-market |
| Wallet (local) | ~1.3 % | 0 | 6-9 % | Local, broad |
On a ZAR 900 basket, card costs ~ZAR 24.40 (2.6 % + 1.00) versus ~ZAR 9.00 on instant EFT — roughly 2.7 times more.
Annual cost by mix
Assumption: 1,000 orders/month at ZAR 900, i.e. ZAR 10.8 million/year revenue.
| Mix | Card share | Blended cost | Yearly fees | vs 100 % EFT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 % instant EFT | 0 % | ~1.0 % | ~ZAR 108,000 | baseline |
| 80 % EFT / 20 % card | 20 % | ~1.32 % | ~ZAR 142,560 | +ZAR 34,560 |
| 60 % EFT / 40 % card | 40 % | ~1.64 % | ~ZAR 177,120 | +ZAR 69,120 |
| 100 % card | 100 % | ~2.6 % | ~ZAR 280,800 | +ZAR 172,800 |
Cards aren't to be banned: if 20 % of diaspora sales can ONLY go through card, the ZAR 34,560 premium is the price of revenue otherwise lost.
Mini case study
Thabo sells home appliances online in Johannesburg, 1,000 orders/month at ZAR 900. Card-only, he'd pay ~ZAR 280,800/year in fees. By offering instant EFT first (80 % of local sales) and card only for the diaspora (20 %), his annual cost drops to ~ZAR 142,560 — a ZAR 138,240/year saving, while keeping access to the international buyers who require cards.
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
FAQ
Are cards really 3 times more expensive?
On a small basket, yes: the ZAR 1.00 flat fee weighs heavily. On a large basket the gap narrows in percentage terms but stays about 2x above account-based rails.
Why is the card failure rate higher?
Between 3D-Secure, bank limits and anti-fraud declines, cards fail 8-14 % of the time in Johannesburg versus 5-9 % for EFT. Each failure is a potentially lost sale.
Should I still offer cards?
Yes if you target the diaspora or international buyers: they often have no local rail. Cards then become a revenue channel, not a cost center.
How do I reduce card failures?
A checkout with automatic retry, smooth 3D-Secure and fallback to account-based rails recovers part of failed transactions. We configure this flow.
Does the optimal mix change by product?
Yes. A low-basket local product wins going all-EFT; a premium product aimed at the diaspora justifies a higher card share. The mix is steered per segment.
Let's talk about your project. We balance card and account-based rails to minimize fees without losing sales. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
