Programme · Regional
SADC real-time gross settlement system (SADC-RTGS)
Record SADC-P-0001 · draft, not yet reviewed by a person
Status by track
DeliveryOperating · Sep 2026sources checked 26 Oct 2026
SADC-RTGS settles high-value payments between banks in 15 SADC countries. It settled only in rand from 2013 until the Reserve Bank and Banco Nacional de Angola announced the kwanza as a second settlement currency on 27 July 2026. In September 2026 it settled 163,588 transactions worth R279.5 billion.
- settlement volumes, September 2026 · Sep 2026"The SADC-RTGS processed 163,588 transactions to the value of ZAR 279.5 Billion"; "Total number of participating countries: 15"; "Total number of participating Banks (including central banks): 88" "The SADC-RTGS processed 163,588 transactions to the value of ZAR 279.5 Billion"; "Total number of participating countries: 15"; "Total number of participating Banks (including central banks): 88"not yet checked by a personSADC-RTGS Settlement Statistics and Indicators, September 2026 · PDF p.1 (as the web reader returned it; a reviewer reports p.2, so confirm against the PDF) · not yet checked by a person
- cumulative settlement since launch · undated"The total number of transactions settled to date is 7,518,029", with a cumulative value of about R20.7 trillion converted at 30 September 2026 rates "The total number of transactions settled to date is 7,518,029", with a cumulative value of about R20.7 trillion converted at 30 September 2026 ratesnot yet checked by a personSADC-RTGS Settlement Statistics and Indicators, September 2026 · PDF p.1 (as the web reader returned it; a reviewer reports p.2, so confirm against the PDF) · not yet checked by a person
- second settlement currency (Angolan kwanza) · 27 Jul 2026the system "has settled transactions exclusively in South African rand since its inception in 2013"; the governors of the two central banks "today formally announced" the kwanza as a settlement currency the system "has settled transactions exclusively in South African rand since its inception in 2013"; the governors of the two central banks "today formally announced" the kwanza as a settlement currencynot yet checked by a personIntroduction of the Angolan kwanza into the SADC-RTGS system (media release) · media release text · not yet checked by a person
- further settlement currencies (stated intention)the Reserve Bank intends to add other regional currencies, such as the Botswana pula, "in due course" the Reserve Bank intends to add other regional currencies, such as the Botswana pula, "in due course"not yet checked by a personIntroduction of the Angolan kwanza into the SADC-RTGS system (media release) · media release text · not yet checked by a person
Not established
- When the kwanza began settling and how much has settled in it. The release gives no separate effective date, and the September statistics give no breakdown by currency.
- Whether the pula or any other currency has a date for joining.
Observations
One month only, September 2026, and the running totals to its end; earlier months' sheets were not read. These are not a trend.
| Period | Segment | Measure | Value | Denominator | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2026 | all SADC-RTGS settlements | transactions settled in the month | 163588 transactions | not applicable (a count) | not yet checked by a person |
| Sep 2026 | all SADC-RTGS settlements | value settled in the month | 279.5 ZAR billion | not applicable (a total) | not yet checked by a person |
| launch to 2026-09 | all SADC-RTGS settlements | transactions settled since launch | 7518029 transactions | not applicable (a running count; launch date not stated on the page, chart starts in 2013) | not yet checked by a person |
| launch to 2026-09 | all SADC-RTGS settlements | value settled since launch | 20.7 ZAR trillion | not applicable (a running total; the sheet converts it at 30 September 2026 rates) | paraphrase, not a quotation |
| Sep 2026 | SADC-RTGS participation | participating countries | 15 countries | not applicable (a count) | not yet checked by a person |
| Sep 2026 | SADC-RTGS participation | participating banks, including central banks | 88 institutions | not applicable (a count) | not yet checked by a person |
Evidence
- the Reserve Bank's stated reason for a second currencydirect settlement in kwanza lets participants avoid foreign-exchange conversions and so lowers transaction costs, in the release's account direct settlement in kwanza lets participants avoid foreign-exchange conversions and so lowers transaction costs, in the release's accountparaphrase, not a quotationIntroduction of the Angolan kwanza into the SADC-RTGS system (media release) · media release text · paraphrase, not a quotation
Blockers
- The region's settlement system worked in one currency, the rand, from 2013 until July 2026 · evidence of the constraint
Connections
- Shared challenge with PAPSS and South Africa
Institutions named
A role is shown only where a quoted source says what the institution does on this reform.
Reach: 1 cross-border links, 1 blockers, 2 institutions in 2 countries or bodies. Counted from the records.