"It's Free": American Expat Says Two National SA Systems Are More Advanced Than the US
- An American TikToker shared a video praising two South African things he says leave the US behind
- He called out SA's banking system as far ahead of America's, which still relies on paper cheques and slower transfers
- South Africans flooded the comments with mixed reactions, from pride to warnings telling Americans to stay home
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Source: TikTok
An American content creator is making waves after claiming South Africa is ahead of the United States in ways most people never talk about.
@petersontoscano posted the video on 3 September 2026, filmed outdoors next to a calm lake or river with hills stretching behind him. Speaking directly to camera with humour and energy, he told his American followers there were things in South Africa that would genuinely surprise them.
His first point was the banking system. He said South Africa's mobile banking apps offer features that American banks simply cannot match, urging his viewers to "get rid of your checks and your abacus" and see what was possible. It is a fair comparison on paper. South Africa's major banks, including FNB, Standard Bank, Absa, Nedbank, and Capitec, operate in a tightly regulated, digitally advanced environment where near-instant transfers and fully app-based banking are the norm.
Paper cheques were phased out years ago. In the United States, by contrast, the banking landscape is fragmented across thousands of institutions, and older systems like ACH transfers, which can take several business days, are still widely used.
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SA's unofficial morning alarm
His second point landed with more humour. After building suspense about a government-driven, off-the-grid, national system designed to get people moving in the morning, he gestured to the side of the screen to reveal his answer: the hadeda ibis. The unmistakable screech of South Africa's most notorious bird played out as he made his big reveal.
Watch the TikTok that has South Africans talking:
Mzansi reacts with pride and playful pushback
The comments section on the TikTok page was full of South Africans who had plenty to say, from genuine pride to tongue-in-cheek warnings:
@Mr Attorney | Bohlatse added:
"Please stop recruiting people to come here."
@Fatimaa 🇿🇦 shared a moment of genuine pride:
"I ran out of prepaid electricity at 2 am, and my wifi also switched off, and I had no mobile data. But my banking app still allowed me to connect and buy electricity on the app. In 1 minute, I had electricity again."
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@SheyWahab noted:
"We have the most sophisticated banking system in the world, and our banks have won many international awards."
@Malome M added:
"Now tell them about how we file our tax returns. Americans can learn a thing or two from us."
@Fivefullsummers simply said:
"South Africa has some of the most innovative banks in the world."
More on Americans reacting to South Africa
- Briefly News recentluy reported that a black American woman became emotional during her first Ethiopia visit while reflecting on the African diaspora and ancestors who never returned.
- An American woman living in South Africa named three Mzansi habits she believes the US should adopt, including one everyday bathroom feature.
- After just 16 hours in Johannesburg, an American woman said she finally understood why Tyla carries herself with confidence.
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Source: Briefly News
