Jeremy Lang is the MD of Business Partners Limited
SOUTH Africa's small businesses received a greater boost from improved electricity supply than from the festive trading season, according to the latest SME Confidence Index released by Business Partners Limited.
The fourth-quarter 2025 survey found that nearly three-quarters (73.4%) of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) reported improved business operations as a result of reduced load shedding, while almost half (46.5%) said seasonal trading had no significant impact on their performance.
A further 8.1% of respondents said seasonal trading had a negative effect on their businesses, despite official figures showing retail sales increased during the period.
According to Statistics South Africa, retail sales reached R117.9 billion in November 2025, a 3.6% increase compared with the same month in 2024. However, the survey suggests that the benefits of peak shopping periods such as Black Friday and the festive season were not felt equally across all sectors.
