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September 18, 2026Disclaimer:
This blog offers general guidance based on information available at the time of publication. For the most up-to-date details, please contact Netcash or other service providers directly.
WooCommerce, as one of the world’s most widely used eCommerce platforms, is a popular choice for South African businesses. Online shop owners often choose WooCommerce for its ease of use, cost-effectiveness, payment integrations, customisation options, and ownership of customer and store data.
While WooCommerce offers these advantages, it does not include built-in payment processing, so merchants must connect a payment gateway before accepting online payments. A WooCommerce payment gateway in South Africa needs local methods at checkout (cards, Instant EFT, Scan to Pay, Payflex), not only an international card processor. Fortunately, several South African payment gateways integrate with WooCommerce, but which one should you choose, and how do you set it up?
This is a step-by-step guide to installing and configuring the best payment gateway for a WooCommerce store in South Africa. Furthermore, it details payment method testing, refund and dispute handling, and troubleshooting common WooCommerce payment gateway issues.
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What is a WooCommerce payment gateway?
In simple terms, a WooCommerce payment gateway is a software tool or plugin that connects a WordPress online store to a financial institution. It securely processes transactions between customers, banks, and merchants during checkout.
It’s crucial to know that WooCommerce is simply an eCommerce platform where you can host your store, while a payment gateway is the service that authorises and processes transactions.
Shopping happens on the online store, but once a customer proceeds to checkout, the payment gateway securely authorises and processes the transaction to complete the sale. Depending on the gateway configuration, customers may either remain on your website or be redirected to a secure payment page.
Beyond transactions, a WordPress payment gateway in SA provides additional features such as transaction reporting, refunds, fraud protection, and settlement reporting, supporting pre- and post-sale processes.
Best WooCommerce payment gateways in South Africa: Options
WooCommerce supports many payment gateways, so before making a choice, analyse whether it supports South African payment preferences, local settlement, and offers easy integration.
Below is a comparison table of the best payment gateways for WooCommerce in South Africa.
|
|
Payment methods |
Settlement/payout timing |
Installation |
Configuration |
Testing |
Refunds |
|
Netcash |
Cards, Instant EFT, Scan to Pay, Payflex, 1Voucher |
Funds will be available in your bank account the next business day
depending on when the payer makes payment. |
Official plugin and API or WooCommerce plugin and API integration |
Go to WooCommerce Settings → General → Payments → Enable Pay Now → Insert your Account Number + Pay Now Service Key
Netcash account → Account Profile → NetConnector → Pay Now
Copy & paste pre-created postback URLs into the relevant fields |
Test Mode: Yes
Sandbox: No
3D Secure needs a real Live transaction |
Via the Netcash dashboard, update the WooCommerce order manually |
|
PayGate |
Cards, Instant EFT, MTN MoMo, Zapper, Snapscan |
Typically processes settlements and pays out funds within 1 to 3 business days, depending on your specific merchant agreement, acquiring bank configuration, and payment method |
Official plugin and API or WooCommerce plugin and API integration |
Go to WooCommerce → Settings → Payments → PayGate PayWeb
Enable the plugin
Enter your PayGate ID and Encryption Key |
Test Mode: Yes
Sandbox: Yes |
Process refunds manually via the PayGate Merchant Access Portal or via direct API/Batch request |
|
Peach Payments |
Cards, Instant EFT, Payflex, Happy Pay, PayJustNow, 1Voucher, Scan to Pay, Mobicred, digital wallets |
Merchant settlements are processed daily and typically reflect in your bank account the next business day |
Official plugin and API or WooCommerce plugin and API integration |
Go to WooCommerce → Settings → Payments
Manage next to Peach Payments
Select Enable/Disable to turn the plugin on or off |
Test Mode: Yes
Sandbox: Yes |
Supports full or partial refunds. You must refund certain payment methods manually |
|
Yoco |
Cards, Instant EFT, digital wallets |
Payouts through Yoco take 1 to 2 business days to reflect in your bank account, while the Instant Payout feature transfers funds within an hour |
Official plugin and API or WooCommerce plugin and API integration |
Go to the Sales tab
Select the eCommerce integrations tile/widget
Select the “How to connect”
Scroll down to Verified domains and select the “Add domain” button
Add your website domain
|
Test Mode: Yes
Sandbox: Yes
|
All transactions appear in the Yoco App (mobile or web), where you can manage refunds and view payouts |
|
Paystack |
Cards, Masterpass, EFT |
Paystack settlement timing depends on your business's country and currency, usually taking between 1 and 2 working days |
Native plugin and API |
Go to WooCommerce → Settings → Payments → Paystack
Enable Paystack on your store’s checkout
Enable Test mode
Select payment methods
Add API keys |
Test Mode: Yes
Sandbox: Yes |
Go to Paystack Dashboard → Transactions page
Find the transaction → click on it to reveal the transaction details
Find the Refunds tab → Click to open the tab and click the “New Refund” button
Fill in the amount and click “Confirm” |
Disclaimer: All information provided in this table aims to provide objective, useful information and assess all options fairly based on the same criteria.
Installing the Netcash plugin
Once you have chosen a payment gateway, the next step is connecting it to your store. Netcash offers a dedicated WooCommerce plugin that lets online store owners connect their shop and configure supported payment options without building a payment integration from scratch.
Before starting, make sure WooCommerce is already installed and activated on your WordPress website and that you have an active Netcash account with the Pay Now service enabled.
Step 1: Create your Netcash merchant account
To connect your WooCommerce store to Netcash, you first need an active account.
If you are not already a Netcash customer, complete the relevant application and onboarding process before installing the plugin. Once the Pay Now service has been approved and activated, you can create the Pay Now service key needed to connect your store.
In your Netcash account, go to Account Profile → NetConnector → Pay Now. From here, you can activate your service key and configure the payment options you want available at checkout.
Step 2: Download or install the WooCommerce plugin
With your Netcash account ready, install the official Netcash WooCommerce plugin here.
From your WordPress dashboard, navigate to the plugin section and install and activate the Netcash WooCommerce plugin. Once activated, the relevant Netcash payment settings should become available within your WooCommerce configuration.
Before continuing, check that your WordPress and WooCommerce versions are compatible with the current plugin version and that your website has an active SSL certificate.
Keeping your WordPress installation, WooCommerce platform and plugins updated is also important for maintaining a stable checkout environment.
Step 3: Connect your Netcash account
After activating the plugin, connect it to your Netcash Pay Now service using the credentials provided through your Netcash account. The Pay Now service key authenticates the connection between WooCommerce and your Netcash account and controls the payment services available at checkout.
Enter the required credentials in the relevant WooCommerce settings and save your changes.
Be careful when entering credentials into WordPress. An incorrect service key or configuration can prevent payments from being processed correctly.
Step 4: Save and enable payments
Once your account details have been entered, enable the Netcash payment gateway in WooCommerce and select the payment methods you want customers to see during checkout.
At this stage, keep the gateway in its testing configuration where applicable. Do not switch to live payments until you have completed the checkout tests outlined below.
Netcash's Pay Now documentation also recommends using test mode while testing and disabling it once development is complete.
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Configure WooCommerce payment methods
Installing a gateway does not automatically mean every available payment method should be displayed at checkout. Your payment configuration should reflect how your customers prefer to pay and what your business needs to accept.
Netcash’s Pay Now service supports multiple payment options, with the exact options available depending on the service configuration. These can include card payments, Instant EFT, Scan to Pay, Payflex, and other payment methods.
Start by reviewing the payment options available through your Netcash account. Then enable the methods that are relevant to your customers and products.
For example, card payments can offer a familiar option for online shoppers, while Instant EFT can provide another way for customers to pay directly from their bank. Scan to Pay supports customers who prefer QR-based payments, while Payflex offers an alternative payment option for eligible purchases. Voucher-based payment methods are also becoming more popular among underbanked consumers.
The goal is not to enable every available option simply because you can. Instead, provide a useful mix of payment methods without making your checkout unnecessarily complicated.
Test the WooCommerce payment gateway plugin before going live
A payment gateway should be tested before sending customers to your checkout. A successful test is more than checking whether a payment button appears; you need to confirm that the complete customer and order journey works correctly.
Start by testing a successful transaction. Run a test transaction and check that the test customer (you in this instance) receives the correct confirmation, that the WooCommerce order is updated correctly in the online shop, and that the transaction appears in your payment records.
You should also test scenarios such as:
- A successful card payment should result in the expected WooCommerce order status and customer notification
- A declined or unsuccessful payment should not incorrectly mark an order as paid
- A customer who abandons or cancels the payment should be returned to an appropriate checkout or order status
- The correct payment amount, order reference and customer information should be passed through
- The checkout should work correctly on mobile as well as desktop
- Customer and merchant notifications should contain the expected information
- Refunds should be tested according to the payment gateway's supported process
Netcash’s Pay Now documentation includes a test mode for simulating transactions. However, not every payment method necessarily follows the same testing process. Consult the provider's documentation to see which ones can be tested.
That limitation makes it particularly important to check the testing requirements for each payment method you intend to offer before launch.
Handle WooCommerce refunds and payment disputes
Payment management does not end when a customer completes a purchase. Your team should also know how to handle refunds, failed payments, and payment disputes after an order has been placed.
A refund reverses a payment to the customer, while a dispute or chargeback follows a different process and may involve the payment provider, the acquiring bank, or the card scheme.
For refunds, confirm the transaction and order details before processing the refund. Once the refund has been completed through the relevant Netcash process, ensure the WooCommerce order reflects the correct outcome to keep your store records accurate.
The exact refund process varies depending on the payment method and gateway configuration. Some payment methods may require a different process from card transactions.
For disputes, keep supporting information such as order confirmations, invoices, delivery records, customer communications and refund records where relevant. Having an organised transaction history can make it easier to respond when a payment is questioned.
WooCommerce payment gateway issues and how to fix them
Even a correctly configured payment gateway can encounter issues. Before contacting support, check these common causes:
- Incorrect account or service key: Check that your WooCommerce credentials match the active credentials in your Netcash account.
- Payments remain pending: Check the transaction status and confirm that your postback or notification settings are configured correctly.
- Payments fail at checkout: Confirm that the payment method is enabled, your account is active, and the plugin is up to date.
- Plugin conflicts: Check whether another WordPress plugin is interfering with checkout or payment processing.
- Test mode is enabled: Confirm that test mode has been disabled before accepting live customer payments.
- Still having issues? Record the order reference, error message and transaction status before contacting support.
FAQs about setting up a payment gateway for WooCommerce
Set up the best payment gateway for WooCommerce with Netcash
Your WooCommerce payment gateway should do more than just process a transaction. It should fit into your checkout, give customers convenient payment options, and make payment management easier for your business.
With the Netcash WooCommerce integration, you can connect your store to Netcash Pay Now and configure the payment methods available to your customers. Once your integration is installed and tested, you can launch your checkout with confidence, knowing that the key payment and order flows have been tested.
Make checkout simpler with secure online payments.
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Author:
Candice Sergeant
Product Manager
Stay in Touch
Candice Sergeant is a digital dynamo at Netcash, where she’s on a mission to help South African businesses level up their online game. As an eCommerce Product Owner, she’s got her finger on the pulse of the latest trends and technologies, constantly seeking out ways to boost sales and streamline operations. With a knack for spotting opportunities and a passion for innovation, Candice is your go-to guide for taking your e-commerce business to the next level.
