2026 liquidations climb to 2,089 after another 250 companies fold

South Africa recorded 250 liquidations in September, taking the total for the first nine months of 2026 to 2,089.

September’s figure was 12.3% below the 285 recorded a year earlier, although higher than August’s revised count of 228.

The total includes both companies and close corporations.

The broader trend improved. Third-quarter liquidations fell 17% compared with the same period in 2025, while the January-to-September total was 6.6% lower.

However, compulsory liquidations moved in the opposite direction. There were 38 cases in September, compared with 25 a year earlier. The nine-month total increased slightly, from 228 to 232.

The distinction matters when interpreting the figures: a decline in overall liquidations does not necessarily mean that financially distressed businesses face less pressure.

Stats SA separately recorded 123 insolvencies in September, compared with 122 a year earlier. This ended five consecutive months of annual declines, although the year-to-date total of 1,136 remained 15.7% below the 1,347 recorded in 2025.

Third-quarter insolvencies fell 23.4%, from 500 to 383.

These insolvency statistics cover individuals and partnerships placed under final sequestration, rather than companies and close corporations. They should therefore be distinguished from the liquidation figures, which measure the winding-up of those corporate entities.

Stats SA resumed publishing insolvency data in July after a lengthy interruption following a cyber incident at the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development. Liquidation reporting continued during that period because it relies on a different data source.

Sources: BusinessTech, “Game over for 250 companies in South Africa”, 28 October 2026; Stats SA, Statistics of insolvencies, September 2026, released 20 October 2026; Stats SA, “Data on insolvencies now available”.