South Africa’s banking and payment infrastructure has been steadily shifting away from magnetic-stripe (magstripe) cards—and toward contactless EMV (Europay, Mastercard & Visa) payments—in recent years. This change is happening because payment networks and banks are prioritising card safety, transaction speed, and use-case alignment with global standards.
What’s Changing
Magstripe payments, where a card is swiped through a reader, are increasingly rare and being replaced with tap-to-pay contactless technology that uses an embedded chip and NFC antenna. Globally, card issuers, including Mastercard, are already phasing out magnetic stripes on new cards in favour of chip-only designs.
In South Africa, banks such as Nedbank have announced that swipe payments at toll gates are being replaced with contactless tap payments. Toll operators and payment infrastructure providers across the country are upgrading point-of-sale devices so motorists can just tap and go with modern bank cards or mobile wallets. Chapman’s Peak Drive requires all users to have contactless EMV cards
Why Contactless Is the New Standard
- Speed: Transactions are completed in a fraction of a second—ideal for high-traffic toll lanes.
- Convenience: Motorists keep their payment method in hand; no manual swiping or handing over of cards.
- Alignment with Global Practices: Contactless payment adoption is strong worldwide, and local infrastructure upgrades reflect these trends.
What Drivers Should Do
If your current debit or credit card doesn’t support contactless (look for the tap icon), contact your bank for a replacement. Most major banks issue tap-enabled EMV cards as standard. You may also use mobile wallets such as Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, or Google Pay linked to your card.
How to pay at Chapman's Peak Drive:
✔ Cash still works
✔ Tap-enabled debit/credit cards
✔ Apple/Samsung/Google Pay devices
✔ Frequent User/Wild Card
Update your bank card if yours doesn’t support contactless yet before the end of April 2026. For specific detail relating to linked credit cards and Frequent User cards, contact the toll plaza at email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 021 791 8220 or WhatsApp 060 980 2347.
