The impact of COVID-19 on small and micro-enterprises in South Africa

Abstract

Small and micro-enterprises cannot be wished away. This became more clear in the fight for survival during the COVID-19 pandemic. The impact of this pandemic on small and micro-enterprises has challenged both government and the private sector to rethink their approaches to support these enterprises. The study was aimed at examining the impact of COVID-19 on small and micro-enterprises in South Africa. A desk research design was used to collect the data. The discussion included the government's response to address the pandemic's impact on small and micro-enterprises. The plight of small business practitioners, as a consequence of the lockdown, are also reported on in the findings of the study. Recommendations of the study are to revisit the regulatory environment that should enable small businesses to thrive, strengthen skills development, and speed up the transfer of knowledge of the digital economy to small and micro-enterprise practitioners.