Is it better to pay taxis in South Africa with cash, or do drivers accept cards or payment apps?
South Africa is very split between old and new when it comes to taxis. The traditional minibus taxis are cash-only, but tourists rarely use those unless traveling with locals. Uber and Bolt are the standard in cities, and they’re fully card-compatible. I mostly used Uber in Cape Town and never needed cash. That said, I still kept rand for emergencies. If you’re traveling around smaller towns, you’ll need cash, but in major cities, cards are fine with apps.
From my time in South Africa, I’d say it depends entirely on the type of taxi. Uber and Bolt dominate the urban areas, and paying by card through the apps worked perfectly for me. Traditional taxis or minibuses on the street only accept cash, no exceptions. It’s worth having both options: some cash in rand for flexibility, but also a card for app-based rides. If you stick to the apps, you won’t need much cash for taxis at all.
I live in Pretoria and can tell you, most traditional taxi drivers still prefer cash. App-based services are growing fast and generally more reliable. If you're a visitor, Uber and Bolt are safer and reduce the need for local currency. Minibus taxis - used by locals - are 100% cash-based and only take coins and small notes. If you're sticking to cities, cashless works well, but outside major metros, always have backup cash in small denominations.
I used a few local taxis in Durban and they all insisted on cash - and exact change too. No POS machines, no app options. Bolt was cheaper and let me prepay, which felt safer. Street taxis were hit-or-miss, and some refused to start the ride without negotiating a flat rate first. If you’re traveling on a budget, apps are a better bet - plus you avoid the whole “do you have change?” drama.
I based myself in Johannesburg for a month and used Uber and Bolt exclusively. Payment through the app worked every time, linked to my Revolut card. Traditional cabs, especially around Sandton, still want cash, and card acceptance is rare or “machine not working” excuses pop up. One Bolt driver let me pay via SnapScan once, but don’t count on it unless you have a South African bank account. Always keep around R200 in cash for emergencies, but digital is the way to go.
In Cape Town, I avoided street taxis altogether and used Bolt and Uber instead - they’re safer, cheaper, and let you pay directly through the app. Traditional metered taxis were expensive and always demanded cash, and some didn’t even have meters running. I had one try to overcharge me from the V&A Waterfront. Stick to rideshare apps where possible. If you must use a regular taxi, have small cash notes - they rarely take cards.