JOHANNESBURG: The senior manager for economic services at Credit Guarantee Luke Doig said that the number of liquidated businesses rose to 208 in March from 158 in February. “I would be very cautious in expecting a sharp improvement soon, notwithstanding the fact that April is a slow administrative month given the number of public holidays,”.
The figure of 208 was slightly higher than the 206 liquidations recorded in the same month last year mainly due to liquidated businesses in the community, social, and personal services industry, followed by the wholesale and retail trade, catering and accommodation industry.
The financing, insurance, real estate and business services industry recorded 27 fewer liquidations. There was a decrease of 1.4% in liquidations in the first quarter of 2015 compared with the first quarter of 2014. The estimated number of insolvencies decreased by 9.6% in February 2015 compared with February 2014. A 4.7% decrease was estimated in the three months ended February 2015 compared with the three months ended February 2014.