TapAPI
Free for vendors Nominated by a customer? Your spot is waiting

Every customer already carries their payment card.

Any South African with a Smart ID can pay you. No card machine rental. No scheme fees. Your Android phone becomes the SpeedPoint. TapAPI records every sale.

Vendor mode — pilot
R 0
Sales reflect
Instant
Customer pays
Scan + PIN
Hardware rental
None

How the money moves

Every scan shows on your TapAPI record the moment it happens. Spend it on the network with your suppliers, share credit with your family, buy airtime, data, or electricity. Your TapAPI credit stays in the network — no cash-out, no bank charges, no waiting.

How it works

Become a vendor in 3 steps

The same TapAPI app your customers use. Add your business details, flip on vendor mode, start recording sales.

01
South African Smart ID card

1 · Download the app

Scan the barcode on your Smart ID, snap the front, quick face check, choose a 4-digit PIN. Your wallet is ready. Under 2 minutes.

02
A vendor at their market stall

2 · Flip on vendor mode

In Settings, turn on vendor mode. Business name, what you sell, where you trade. No rent. No fees. No papers.

03
Customer's Smart ID card

3 · Start recording sales

Customers scan their Smart ID on your own phone. You can also help walk-in customers open their own TapAPI record with their Smart ID.

Vendors we're built for

Made for your kind of business

Wherever there's a Smart ID and an Android phone, there's a TapAPI vendor.

🏪
Spaza shops
Corner shops, tuck shops, home shops
🍲
Food vendors
Kota stands, bunny chows, hawkers
✂️
Salons & barbers
Any personal service
🧺
Market traders
Fruit, veg, clothing, crafts
🚕
Taxi & e-hail
Drivers, ranks, associations
🚚
Deliveries
Airtime, gas, water, groceries
🚗
Car guards & parking
Tips, day fees
🎫
Events & festivals
Stalls, entry, drinks
Trust & compliance

Common questions

Short answers. The full legal position is in the footer.

Is TapAPI a bank?

No. TapAPI is a closed-loop record-keeping service. Money is held by an authorised payment institution regulated under the National Payment System Act. TapAPI records who paid whom. That's it.

Do I need a bank account to be a vendor?

No. Your TapAPI credit is spent inside the network — at other TapAPI vendors, on airtime, data, electricity, or with your family and suppliers. No bank account required to trade.

What happens if I lose my phone?

Your TapAPI record stays safe on the server. Sign in on a new phone with your Smart ID and your PIN — you're back where you were. Your PIN protects every transaction, so a lost phone is not a stolen wallet.

How does a customer pay me if they don't have a smartphone?

If they have a Smart ID, you can help them open their own TapAPI record right there on your phone. They walk away with a record that anyone with the app can add credit to. Next time they come back, they can pay you with a scan and a PIN.

What can I do with the credit I earn?

Spend it with any TapAPI vendor. Share it with your family. Buy airtime, data, electricity, or vouchers from your credit. Pay a supplier who's also on TapAPI. Every rand stays in the network.

Do you charge fees?

No. A R50 payment is R50 recorded to you.

Is my customer's information safe?

Yes. Only what's needed for the transaction lands on your device — the customer's first name and photograph for a moment, so you can confirm it's them. The customer's ID number, address, and other personal details never appear on your phone. TapAPI (Pty) Ltd's Information Officer is registered with the Information Regulator under POPIA. Contact help@tapapi.co.za for any privacy request.

Can I stop being a vendor if I want to?

Any time. Flip vendor mode off in Settings. Your wallet stays. You keep your credit. You can flip it back on whenever you like.