South Africa’s small businesses may hold the key to economic recovery and job creation, but a new national SMME report reveals we’re not setting them up to succeed — especially women entrepreneurs.

Commissioned by the Shoprite Group and compiled by research firm Worldwide Works, the report delves deep into the real-world challenges facing women entrepreneurs in South Africa, from funding barriers to systemic gender inequality.  

Speaking on HOT Business with Jeremy Maggs and MoneyWeb, report author Arthur Goldstuck revealed that while women make up more than half of owners in microenterprises, their representation drops sharply as businesses grow. 

“They’re just not getting the same access to funding or networks,” Goldstuck explains. “Women have to prove themselves more — it’s the old story.”  

Support for Women Entrepreneurs Must Go Beyond Startups 

The report also highlights a troubling blind spot in policy and support for mid-sized enterprises — the businesses with the most potential for job creation. Goldstuck says loans are often unaffordable, mentorship programs are scarce, and regulation remains a serious stumbling block for startups.  

Crucially, experience matters. The report found that businesses over five years old are far more likely to consider themselves competitive — proving that access to support, markets, and networks over time makes all the difference.  

But can small businesses really move the economic needle, or are we putting too much pressure on them? Goldstuck believes in their potential — if we stop overburdening and start supporting them properly.  

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Final Thoughts 

If South Africa is serious about economic recovery, we must move away from quick fixes and towards long-term, strategic investment, particularly in women entrepreneurs. Their potential is obvious, they just lack long-term funding and support to help them grow beyond survival.

Catch the full interview on Hot Business with Arthur Goldstuck below for a full breakdown of the report’s findings and his practical recommendations for change.