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South African liquidations fell in 2026 as compulsory cases rose

Statistics South Africa recorded 2,089 liquidations of companies and close corporations in January to September 2026, down from 2,237 a year earlier. Compulsory cases rose from 228 to 232.

Sources checked

South Africa Boardroom Editorial Team

Same nine months each yearLiquidations by year and type

All liquidations

Shared scale · 0 cases to 2,237 cases

  • Jan to Sep 20201,504 cases
  • Jan to Sep 20211,681 cases
  • Jan to Sep 20221,713 cases
  • Jan to Sep 20231,827 cases
  • Jan to Sep 20241,937 cases
  • Jan to Sep 20252,237 cases
  • Jan to Sep 20262,089 cases

Switch among total, voluntary and compulsory cases. The same scale applies to each series.

Source 1 Source 2

Voluntary cases explain the reduction in the total

Voluntary cases fell from 2,009 in January to September 2025 to 1,857 in the same months of 2026. Compulsory cases increased by four. Combining the two movements produces the decline of 148 cases. Source 1

September shows the same split

September liquidations fell from 285 in 2025 to 250 in 2026. Voluntary cases fell from 260 to 212 and compulsory cases rose from 25 to 38. Monthly counts can vary, so the chart aligns the first nine months of each year. Source 1

The source distinguishes two winding-up routes

Compulsory liquidation takes place by court order. Voluntary liquidation occurs when a company or close corporation resolves to wind up. Stats SA compiles reports from the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission and the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition. Source 1

Administrative counts can be revised

The September 2026 release identifies late submissions and corrections as sources of revision. For a comparison of business closure rates, analysts also need the number of businesses in scope and a definition of closure that covers exits outside formal liquidation. Source 1

Sources

Open the data and source notes