Guides & field notes

The OrigamiPay Blog

Plain-English guides to running payroll in South Africa — PAYE, UIF, SDL, EMP201 and BCEA-compliant payslips — written by the team building the platform.

BusinessComplianceTaxGuide

Business

When (and how) to switch payroll software

If payroll has become a monthly scramble of spreadsheets, late EMP201s and patched-together payslips, it may be time to switch. Here is how to know, what to look for, and how to migrate without losing a beat.

27 June 20267 min read

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Compliance

EMP201 submission, step by step

The EMP201 is the monthly declaration that tells SARS how much PAYE, UIF and SDL you owe. Here's exactly what goes on it, when it's due, and how to file and pay without the month-end panic.

24 June 20267 min read

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Compliance

What must appear on a compliant South African payslip (BCEA)

Section 33 of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act sets out exactly what a payslip must contain. Here is the full checklist, why each field matters, and how to stay on the right side of a labour inspection.

20 June 20267 min read

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Tax

PAYE, UIF and SDL explained: what every South African employer must deduct

PAYE, UIF and SDL are three different things that often get lumped together. Here is what each one is, who pays it, and how to work it out — with a full worked example for an employee earning R25 000 a month.

16 June 20267 min read

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Guide

How to run payroll in South Africa: a 2026 guide for employers

Hiring your first employee? Here is the whole South African payroll cycle in plain language — from registering with SARS and the UIF to deductions, payslips, EMP201 and keeping records.

10 June 20268 min read

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Stop reading about payroll. Run it.

OrigamiPay does the PAYE, UIF and SDL maths, produces compliant payslips and pre-fills your EMP201. Try it free for 30 days — no credit card needed.

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