Capitec Bank users across South Africa experienced major disruptions on Friday after the bank’s app and some online banking services suddenly went offline.
Capitec Bank users inconvenienced by app outage
Many clients were left stranded, unable to make payments, transfer money, or log into their mobile banking accounts.
In a short message posted on its official platforms, Capitec confirmed the service failure, stating:
“Some banking services including our app are not available right now. Please use your card instead. We’re fixing this as fast as we can and are really sorry for the inconvenience.”
Despite the apology, the outage caused frustration for many users, especially those relying on the app to complete urgent transactions.
On social media, one user wrote:
“50 people in queues at your ATMs and now your app is not working. How am I supposed to pay my creditors and suppliers? I am losing money every second you’re offline… Jesss guys, it’s hurting my chest.”
Capitec clients reported problems across different services.
According to Down Detector, a site that tracks online service outages, 65% of the reports were about the app (mobile banking), 28% related to online banking through web browsers, and 8% were issues with making payments or transfers within the app.
The bank did not provide a specific reason for the outage or confirm whether it was limited to certain areas or nationwide. It also did not say when full functionality would be restored.
As of Friday afternoon, there were still no further updates from Capitec.
Many clients noted that these outages are becoming too common.
In August 2024, Capitec experienced a similar blackout, also affecting mobile and online banking.
That outage was the third major disruption in the year, following earlier problems in February and July.
What makes the timing of these outages more stressful for users is that they often occur around payday — a time when people need to pay bills, buy essentials, or send money to family members.
While the bank has promised to restore services quickly, the repeated disruptions are eroding trust, especially among those who rely on digital banking for their day-to-day needs.
