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Exploring COVID-19 Challenges and Coping Mechanisms for SMEs in the South African Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

Author

Listed:
  • Clavis Nwehfor Fubah

    (Department of Business Management, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, Pretoria 0028, South Africa)

  • Menisha Moos

    (Department of Business Management, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, Pretoria 0028, South Africa)

Abstract

Globally, COVID-19 has caused significant damage, including business closures and changes in how entrepreneurial activities are performed. The pandemic has spawned a slew of publications with the majority thereof being editorials, commentaries, and concept notes. This implies a lack of empirical evidence on the pandemic. Therefore, the purpose of this paper was to explore the COVID-19 challenges and coping mechanisms for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in South Africa’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Data for the study were collected from 15 SME owners through semi-structured interviews using a generic qualitative research method. The findings revealed that the SME COVID-19 challenges included lockdown restrictions, customer loss, lack of government support, and scarcity of raw materials. The coping mechanisms used by the SMEs were having a positive entrepreneurial mindset followed by reduced service prices and the retrenchments of employees. Theoretically, the study contributes to the scarce empirical evidence on COVID-19 challenges and coping mechanisms for SMEs in the South African context; to the available literature in the entrepreneurial ecosystem context and to the world at large. Practically, it is recommended that during crises, businesses should network with one another to remain operational and, owing to e-commerce, they are encouraged to have an online presence.

Suggested Citation

  • Clavis Nwehfor Fubah & Menisha Moos, 2022. "Exploring COVID-19 Challenges and Coping Mechanisms for SMEs in the South African Entrepreneurial Ecosystem," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-20, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:4:p:1944-:d:744946
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Esabel Phiri & Ntsieni Fitzgerald Ramasimu & Godfrey Maake, 2025. "Survival strategies and failure of SMMEs during the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa: secondary data," International Journal of Business Ecosystem & Strategy (2687-2293), Bussecon International Academy, vol. 7(2), pages 01-13, April.
    2. Ikenna Franklin EZE & Thobekani LOSE, 2023. "Consequences Of Failure And Challenges Of Small Business In South Africa: A Theoretical Review," Business Excellence and Management, Faculty of Management, Academy of Economic Studies, Bucharest, Romania, vol. 13(3), pages 18-32, September.
    3. Md. Nazmus Sakib & Md. Mahbubur Rahman, 2024. "Mitigating the Impact of COVID-19 on SMEs Through Government Policy Intervention: A Systematic Literature Review and Bibliometric Analysis," Future Business Journal, Springer, vol. 10(1), pages 1-11, December.
    4. Michael K. Fung, 2024. "What determines the level of a small family-owned business’s virtual communication with customers? Hong Kong’s experience during the Covid-19 pandemic," Electronic Commerce Research, Springer, vol. 24(4), pages 2927-2951, December.
    5. Chux Gervase Iwu & Lucky Sibanda & Tendai Makwara, 2026. "African Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Resource Constraints: A COVID-19 Perspective," Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Emerging Economies, Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India, vol. 12(1), pages 9-26, January.
    6. Zoltán Csedő & József Magyari & Máté Zavarkó, 2022. "Dynamic Corporate Governance, Innovation, and Sustainability: Post-COVID Period," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-21, March.
    7. Kansilembo Aliamutu & Msizi Mkhize, 2024. "Covid-19 pandemic and international commerce in Southern Africa: documentary review," International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science (2147-4478), Center for the Strategic Studies in Business and Finance, vol. 13(5), pages 588-595, July.
    8. Selene Pennetta & Francesco Anglani & Carmen Reaiche & Stephen Boyle, 2025. "Entrepreneurial Agility in a Disrupted World: Redefining Entrepreneurial Resilience for Global Business Success," Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Emerging Economies, Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India, vol. 34(2), pages 221-267, May.
    9. Solomon Madzvamuse & Armstrong Kadyamatimba & Willard Munyoka, 2024. "The influence of technological preparedness on trust in e-commerce by South African SMEs with demographics as mediation variables," International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science (2147-4478), Center for the Strategic Studies in Business and Finance, vol. 13(2), pages 446-457, March.
    10. Myriam Raymond, 2024. "Accessing and navigating reliable health-related information for African SMEs during the pandemic Insights from an empirical study in 5 African countries," Post-Print hal-04634750, HAL.

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