{"id":2254,"date":"2026-04-09T08:48:57","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T06:48:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/theroundtable.co.za\/?p=2254"},"modified":"2026-04-09T08:50:38","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T06:50:38","slug":"preparing-for-1-6-why-south-african-businesses-must-abandon-growth-at-all-costs-in-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theroundtable.co.za\/?p=2254","title":{"rendered":"Preparing for 1.6%: Why South African Businesses Must Abandon \u2018Growth at All Costs\u2019 in 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"<h4 class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"><strong>Key Takeaways<\/strong><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"><strong>Shift from &#8220;Growth at All Costs&#8221; to &#8220;Efficiency &amp; Capture&#8221;:<\/strong>\u00a0With national GDP limping at 1.6%, the businesses that win will be those who steal market share from inefficient competitors, not those who burn cash chasing new customers.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"><strong>The &#8220;GNU Dividend&#8221; is Real (But Fragile):<\/strong>\u00a0Improved logistics and less load-shedding mean you can finally reduce inventory holding costs. Re-shore your supply chains and adopt\u00a0<strong>Just-in-Time (JIT)<\/strong>\u00a0models again to free up working capital.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"><strong>Your Customer is Broke (Don&#8217;t Take It Personally):<\/strong>\u00a0Real disposable income is flat. Stop selling to the squeezed consumer. Pivot your B2B strategy toward\u00a0<strong>government tenders and semi-state entities<\/strong>\u00a0where budgets are stabilizing.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"><strong>Automate Before You Hire:<\/strong>\u00a0Use the savings from reduced diesel generator spending to buy automation software. This protects you against rising minimum wages and labor unrest.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"><strong>Market Share is the New Revenue:<\/strong>\u00a0In a stagnant pie, your growth equals your competitor&#8217;s loss. Execute ruthlessly on service delivery to pull clients away from complacent rivals.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h4>Preparing for 1.6%: Why South African Businesses Must Abandon \u2018Growth at All Costs\u2019 in 2026<\/h4>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">You feel it, don\u2019t you?<\/p>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">That grinding sensation of running faster just to stand still. You look at your revenue from last year, flat, maybe up 2%. But after factoring in the latest Eskom tariff hike, the National Minimum Wage increase, and the volatile Rand, your real profit margin has actually <em>shrunk<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">You are frustrated because the playbook you relied on during the post-COVID recovery bubble of 2021\u20132022 (aggressive discounting, frantic customer acquisition, borrowing to expand) is now a trap. The narrative coming out of Sandton is one of cautious optimism\u2014the Government of National Unity (GNU) has brought stability. But you aren\u2019t seeing a wave of new consumers walking through your door.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">There is a reason for that. South Africa is projected to grow at only\u00a0<strong>1.6% in 2026<\/strong>. According to the South African Reserve Bank\u2019s latest Quarterly Bulletin, this is not a recovery; it is a plateau.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">For the solopreneur and the small business owner,\u00a0<strong>1.6% is not an invitation to expand. It is a command to fortify.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">The winning strategy for 2026 is not \u201cgrowth at all costs.\u201d It is\u00a0<strong>efficiency and market share capture.<\/strong>\u00a0You cannot grow the pie, so you must learn to take a bigger slice of the existing pie.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">Here is your mentor\u2019s guide to surviving, and thriving, in a low-growth environment.<\/p>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3243211834439885\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><br \/>\n<!-- Horizontal Display Ads --><br \/>\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display: block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3243211834439885\" data-ad-slot=\"5512670723\" data-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins><br \/>\n<script>\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\n<\/script><\/p>\n<h4>The GNU Stability Dividend: Stop Hoarding Cash, Start Moving Stock<\/h4>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">For the last three years, the smartest thing a small business could do was hoard inventory. With Transnet\u2019s port delays causing stock to sit in Durban for six weeks, and with load-shedding disrupting production, you needed a buffer. But that buffer came at a terrible price:\u00a0<strong>cash flow strangulation.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">That era is ending. Tentatively.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">Following the formation of the GNU in 2024, 2026 is showing\u00a0<strong>tentative improvements in logistics and energy security.<\/strong>\u00a0Load-shedding has eased significantly in the first quarter of 2026, and Transnet\u2019s recovery plan is showing marginal improvements in rail and port velocity.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">What does this mean for you?\u00a0<strong>The Just-in-Time (JIT) model is finally viable again.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">You no longer need to park R500,000 of inventory in a warehouse for three months. The risk of stock-outs is decreasing as supply chains stabilize.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Actionable Strategy:<\/strong><br \/>\nConduct an &#8220;inventory autopsy.&#8221; Identify your top 20% of SKUs that move the fastest. Negotiate with local suppliers to move to a weekly delivery schedule rather than monthly bulk orders. The Rand will remain volatile, but the\u00a0<em>physical<\/em>\u00a0movement of goods is improving.\u00a0<strong>Use the logistics recovery to free up cash.<\/strong>\u00a0Take that cash and put it into sales automation, not more stock.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h4>Targeting the &#8220;Thrifty&#8221; Consumer (And Why You Should Ignore Them)<\/h4>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">Here is the harsh truth about 1.6% GDP growth: It is not being driven by mass consumer spending. Real disposable income remains under severe pressure. Stats SA data shows that credit extensions are down, and savings rates are up only because people are terrified.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">The growth is coming from the\u00a0<strong>public sector and export competitiveness.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">If you are a B2C business selling premium coffee or non-essential goods, you are fighting a losing battle against a &#8220;thrifty&#8221; consumer who is trading down to the lowest possible price point.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">The strategic pivot for 2026 is to\u00a0<strong>shift your sales strategy toward government tenders and semi-state entities.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">The GNU has brought budget stabilization to state-owned entities (SOEs). While corruption risks remain, the\u00a0<em>certainty<\/em>\u00a0of payment for legitimate services has improved. Municipalities and state-owned companies are under pressure to perform; they need reliable SMME suppliers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>How to Execute:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\">Register on the\u00a0<strong>National Treasury\u2019s Central Supplier Database (CSD)<\/strong>\u00a0today.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\">Look for tenders related to\u00a0<strong>facilities management, security, logistics, and IT support<\/strong>, these budgets are &#8220;stabilized.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"><em>Pro tip:<\/em>\u00a0Consortium bidding. If you are a solopreneur, find three other complementary small businesses and bid as a consortium. The government loves awarding to &#8220;empowered&#8221; groups, and it dilutes your risk.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">If you cannot pivot to government, then pivot your B2B offering to businesses that\u00a0<em>service<\/em>\u00a0the government. The money is flowing through the state. Get in the pipeline.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h4>Operational Prudence: The Diesel to Digital Trade-off<\/h4>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">For the past four years, South African entrepreneurs have been involuntary landlords for diesel generators. You paid for the capital expenditure, the fuel, and the maintenance just to keep the lights on.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">With the slight uptick in energy stability (less load-shedding in 2026), you now have a choice.\u00a0<strong>Do you keep spending on diesel, or do you reinvest that money into automation?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">The National Minimum Wage has increased again. Labour unrest, driven by real wage compression, is a looming risk for 2026. If you rely on manual labour to run your business, your margins are about to be squeezed from both sides (wage push and low demand).<\/p>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>The Mentor\u2019s Directive:<\/strong><br \/>\nTake 50% of what you budgeted for diesel in 2025, and spend it on\u00a0<strong>Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) automation<\/strong>\u00a0in 2026.<\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"><strong>Retailers:<\/strong>\u00a0Invest in automated stock reordering and AI-driven pricing tools.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"><strong>Service providers:<\/strong>\u00a0Invest in CRM automation that follows up with leads while you sleep.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"><strong>Manufacturers:<\/strong>\u00a0Look for low-cost IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things) sensors to monitor machine efficiency.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Why this works:<\/strong>\u00a0Automation is a fixed cost that scales infinitely. Labour is a variable cost that becomes more expensive every April. In a 1.6% growth environment, you want to minimize variable costs.\u00a0<strong>Replace a headcount with a workflow.<\/strong>\u00a0It sounds ruthless, but it is the only path to surviving a labour strike or a wage hike when you cannot raise your prices.<\/p>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3243211834439885\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><br \/>\n<!-- Horizontal Display Ads --><br \/>\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display: block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3243211834439885\" data-ad-slot=\"5512670723\" data-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins><br \/>\n<script>\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\n<\/script><\/p>\n<h4>How to Steal Market Share (The Only Growth Left)<\/h4>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">If the economy is growing at 1.6%, but your industry is fragmented, your competitor\u2019s loss is your gain. Most small businesses in South Africa are currently\u00a0<em>exhausted<\/em>. They have stopped marketing. They have stopped innovating. They are just &#8220;holding on.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">This is your opportunity.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>The &#8220;Efficiency Flywheel&#8221;:<\/strong><br \/>\nBecause you have freed up cash by moving to JIT inventory (Step 1), and reduced your diesel spend (Step 3), you now have a marginal cost advantage. You can afford to offer a 5% discount or a faster delivery time than your competitor who is still holding massive, expensive stock.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Implement a &#8220;Client Raid&#8221; campaign:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol style=\"text-align: justify;\" start=\"1\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\">Identify your top 10 competitors.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\">Look at their Google Reviews. Find every complaint about &#8220;slow service&#8221; or &#8220;poor communication.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\">Create a targeted offer that directly solves that specific complaint.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\">Reach out to those frustrated customers.\u00a0<strong>Don&#8217;t pitch price. Pitch reliability.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">In a low-growth environment, reliability becomes a luxury good. If you can promise a 24-hour turnaround when your competitor takes 72 hours, you will capture their market share immediately.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h4>The Path Forward: Stop Growing, Start Winning<\/h4>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">You started your business to grow. It hurts to be told that &#8220;expansion&#8221; is off the table for 2026. But you need to reframe the challenge.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Expansion is vanity. Market share is sanity.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">In a 1.6% economy, the goal is not to get bigger. The goal is to get\u00a0<em>tighter<\/em>. Tighter operations, tighter inventory, tighter focus on government and B2B contracts, and tighter service delivery to steal the customers your tired competitors are neglecting.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">The GNU has given you a window of stability. The ports are moving. The lights are on more often. Do not waste this window trying to find unicorn customers who don&#8217;t exist. Use it to build a lean, mean, cash-flow-positive machine.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">When the economy eventually turns up again (and it will), you won&#8217;t just be ready. You will be the only one standing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">Now, go look at your balance sheet. Identify one piece of inventory you don&#8217;t need, and one manual task you can automate. Do those two things today.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><em>You\u2019ve got this.<\/em><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Disclaimer:<\/strong>\u00a0<em>This article is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute professional financial, legal, or business advice. The views expressed are those of the mentor network. Always consult with a qualified professional before making financial or strategic decisions for your business.<\/em><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><strong>References<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><strong>South African Reserve Bank (SARB).<\/strong>\u00a0<em>Monetary Policy Review \u2013 January 2026<\/em>. Projected GDP growth forecasts and consumer credit trends.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.resbank.co.za\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">https:\/\/www.resbank.co.za<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><strong>Statistics South Africa (Stats SA).<\/strong>\u00a0<em>Quarterly Employment Statistics (QES) and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) report \u2013 Q4 2025<\/em>. Analysis of real disposable income and public sector spending.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.statssa.gov.za\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">https:\/\/www.statssa.gov.za<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><strong>Transnet SOC Ltd.<\/strong>\u00a0<em>Recovery Plan Progress Update \u2013 March 2026<\/em>. Logistics performance indicators and port velocity data.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.transnet.net\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">https:\/\/www.transnet.net<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3243211834439885\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><br \/>\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display: block;\" data-ad-format=\"autorelaxed\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3243211834439885\" data-ad-slot=\"8810570291\"><\/ins><br \/>\n<script>\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\n<\/script><\/p>\n<h5 class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"><strong>\ud83d\udcec Get Practical Strategies, Direct to You<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\">Subscribe to our newsletter and start receiving practical, bite-sized lessons on business growth. No fluff, just actionable strategies you can use immediately to improve your cash flow, marketing, and operations.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h5 class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"><strong>Subscribe to our Newsletter<\/strong><\/h5>\n<table style=\"width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; border-style: double; background-color: #ebe8e8;\" cellpadding=\"30\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 100%;\">\n<h6 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Become the strategic leader your business needs. Join our newsletter for weekly, actionable lessons on digital tools and business growth.<\/strong><\/h6>\n<p><i>\n\t\t\t<form id=\"sib_signup_form_1\" method=\"post\" class=\"sib_signup_form\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sib_loader\" style=\"display:none;\"><img\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tdata-src=\"https:\/\/theroundtable.co.za\/wp-includes\/images\/spinner.gif\" alt=\"loader\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"sib_form_action\" value=\"subscribe_form_submit\">\n\t\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"sib_form_id\" value=\"1\">\n                <input type=\"hidden\" name=\"sib_form_alert_notice\" value=\"Please fill out this field\">\n                <input type=\"hidden\" name=\"sib_form_invalid_email_notice\" value=\"Your email address is invalid\">\n                <input type=\"hidden\" name=\"sib_security\" value=\"0c7504eaed\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sib_signup_box_inside_1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div style=\"\/*display:none*\/\" class=\"sib_msg_disp\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n                    \t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"sib-FIRSTNAME-area\">\r\n    First Name\r\n    <input type=\"text\" class=\"sib-FIRSTNAME-area\" name=\"FIRSTNAME\">\r\n<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"sib-LASTNAME-area\">\r\n    Last Name\r\n    <input type=\"text\" class=\"sib-LASTNAME-area\" name=\"LASTNAME\">\r\n<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"sib-email-area\">\r\n    Email Address*\r\n    <input type=\"email\" class=\"sib-email-area\" name=\"email\" required=\"required\">\r\n<\/p>\r\n<p>\r\n    <input type=\"submit\" class=\"sib-default-btn\" value=\"Subscribe\">\r\n<\/p>\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/form>\n\t\t\t<style>\n\t\t\t\tform#sib_signup_form_1 { padding: 5px; -moz-box-sizing:border-box; -webkit-box-sizing: border-box; box-sizing: border-box; } form#sib_signup_form_1 input[type=text],form#sib_signup_form_1 input[type=email], form#sib_signup_form_1 select { width: 100%; border: 1px solid #bbb; height: auto; margin: 5px 0 0 0; } form#sib_signup_form_1 .sib-default-btn { margin: 5px 0; padding: 6px 12px; color:#fff; background-color: #333; border-color: #2E2E2E; font-size: 14px; font-weight:400; line-height: 1.4285; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; vertical-align: middle; -webkit-user-select:none; -moz-user-select:none; -ms-user-select:none; user-select:none; white-space: normal; border:1px solid transparent; border-radius: 3px; } form#sib_signup_form_1 .sib-default-btn:hover { background-color: #ED1B2F; } form#sib_signup_form_1 p{ margin: 10px 0 0 0; }form#sib_signup_form_1 p.sib-alert-message {\n    padding: 6px 12px;\n    margin-bottom: 20px;\n    border: 1px solid transparent;\n    border-radius: 4px;\n    -webkit-box-sizing: border-box;\n    -moz-box-sizing: border-box;\n    box-sizing: border-box;\n}\nform#sib_signup_form_1 p.sib-alert-message-error {\n    background-color: #f2dede;\n    border-color: #ebccd1;\n    color: #a94442;\n}\nform#sib_signup_form_1 p.sib-alert-message-success {\n    background-color: #dff0d8;\n    border-color: #d6e9c6;\n    color: #3c763d;\n}\nform#sib_signup_form_1 p.sib-alert-message-warning {\n    background-color: #fcf8e3;\n    border-color: #faebcc;\n    color: #8a6d3b;\n}\n\t\t\t<\/style>\n\t\t\t<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key Takeaways Shift from &#8220;Growth at All Costs&#8221; to &#8220;Efficiency &amp; Capture&#8221;:\u00a0With national GDP limping at 1.6%, the businesses that win will be those who steal market share from inefficient competitors, not those who burn cash chasing new customers. The &#8220;GNU Dividend&#8221; is Real (But Fragile):\u00a0Improved logistics and less load-shedding mean you can finally reduce inventory holding costs. Re-shore your supply chains and adopt\u00a0Just-in-Time (JIT)\u00a0models again to free up working capital. Your Customer is Broke (Don&#8217;t Take It Personally):\u00a0Real disposable income is flat. Stop selling to the squeezed consumer. Pivot your B2B strategy toward\u00a0government tenders and semi-state entities\u00a0where budgets are [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2255,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[203,478,181],"tags":[606,599,603,601,605,602,609,600,607,608,604],"class_list":["post-2254","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles","category-business-growth","category-business-strategy","tag-automation-vs-labour-south-africa","tag-gnu-stability-dividend","tag-government-tenders-for-smmes","tag-just-in-time-inventory-sa","tag-load-shedding-less","tag-small-business-efficiency-strategies","tag-solopreneur-tips-sa","tag-south-african-economic-growth-2026","tag-stealing-market-share","tag-thrifty-consumer-south-africa","tag-transnet-logistics-recovery"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Preparing for 1.6%: Why South African Businesses Must Abandon \u2018Growth at All Costs\u2019 in 2026 - The Roundtable - South African Small Business Education<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"GDP is stuck at 1.6%. 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