Many small businesses assume cash is “free” because there’s no visible swipe fee. Stack up every rand spent counting, banking and, crucially, protecting that money from theft, and cash can quietly eat 7 % – 9 % of turnover, well above a typical digital-payment fee of 1 % – 3 %.

South Africans don’t only pull out the plastic at tills, more of us expect the guy in the bakkie to have a card reader too. But with merchant-service fees sitting around 2½ %–3 %, is it worth it for small, mobile contractors? Let’s unpack the numbers, the law and the negotiables.

Card-Payment Surcharges in South Africa: Can Shops Pass the Swipe-Fee on to You? Short answer: No – unless the extra fee was clearly...