Confidence in SA’s economy and the ability to grow businesses fell slightly in the third quarter compared with the second, a survey of small and medium-sized business owners showed on Thursday. The third-quarter small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) index by private equity firm Business Partners, which measures the attitudes and confidence levels of South African SME owners, showed confidence that the economy would be conducive for business growth in the next 12 months fell two percentage points to 56%. Business owners’ confidence levels are nearing their lowest point in two years. The current challenging economic landscape, which was compounded by the economic uncertainty caused by the potential ratings downgrade and the increasing uncertainty around the future of the finance minister, was rapidly eroding business owners’ confidence levels, Business Partners MD Ben Bierman said. Political developments are also weighing on sentiment. "The broader economic recovery of the country ...
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