South African Payment Gateway Build

A complete South African payment gateway is required, able to process ZAR transactions for online merchants. The first release must accept credit and debit cards plus Apple Pay, with clear extension points for additional payment methods later. Please architect the solution for the local banking environment and include real-time currency handling, settlement, and reconciliation features that match South African regulations.

Security is critical. I need your professional recommendation on the exact level, but build for the highest industry expectations—tokenisation, strong encryption, possible PCI-DSS alignment, and any two-factor or device-binding measures you believe a gateway must have to pass an external audit. Spell out the approach you intend to follow so I can sign off on it before development starts.

Deliverables
• Production-ready gateway code (API and/or SDK) with deployment scripts
• Merchant onboarding and management portal
• Admin dashboard with transaction search, refunds, and reporting
• Technical documentation and integration guide
• Test suite proving successful credit/debit card and Apple Pay flows

Show me your proposed milestones, timeline, and total cost in your bid. If you have experience with South African compliance or previously certified solutions, highlight that; it will help me choose quickly.