250 South African companies hit with liquidations in September
September’s reported total was below the same month in 2025, while compulsory liquidations increased over both the monthly and annual comparisons.
Reported liquidations reached 250 in September 2026, up from 228 in August. The nine-month total declined, but compulsory cases moved higher.
Is there trouble looming in South Africa's economy?
According to Statistics South Africa, 250 liquidations were reported in the month of September 2026. That was down 12.3% from September 2025, but above the 228 recorded in August 2026.
The figures cover companies and close corporations. Compared with September 2025, company liquidations decreased by 27 cases and close-corporation liquidations by eight, bringing the total down from 285.
Across January–September 2026, the reported total fell 6.6% to 2,089, compared with 2,237 over the same period in 2025. The third-quarter figures also showed a decline: 717 liquidations in July–September 2026, down 17% from 864 in July–September 2025.
Compulsory liquidations move higher
Compulsory liquidations followed a different pattern in the figures. September 2026 recorded 38 cases, compared with 31 in August 2026 and 25 in September 2025.
Over January–September, compulsory liquidations rose from 228 in 2025 to 232 in 2026. The increase therefore sat alongside a decline in total liquidations over the same nine-month period.
One thing to note when asking the question as to whether things are looking bleak is that voluntary liquidation can form part of normal business activity, so liquidation totals should not automatically be read as business failures.
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