Journal of Management - Small and Medium Enterprises (SME's)
Vol 18 No 2 (2025): JOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT Small and Medium Enterprises (SME's)

RESILIENCE AND REINVENTION: THE JOURNEY OF MIGRANT-OWNED MICRO ENTERPRISES IN SOUTH AFRICA BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER COVID-19

Mutisi, Edson Chido (Unknown)
Mutekwe, Paddington (Unknown)
Padayachee, Celestine (Unknown)



Article Info

Publish Date
02 Jul 2025

Abstract

This paper follows foreign migrant-owned microenterprises in South Africa, tracing their paths before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Research on micro-enterprises during the pandemic is generally inclined toward finding the impact of COVID-19 without a migration analysis. This paper bridges this gap by centering on migrant-owned businesses since they may have been affected by being owned by foreigners, a vulnerable population. The paper utilizes qualitative data to evaluate the pandemic's impact on business operations, financial security, and survival mechanisms. Furthermore, it assesses the post-pandemic revival process and locates migrant-owned small businesses' experiences in debates on migration, informality, and entrepreneurship. The primary findings of the paper illustrate that migrant-owned small businesses performed relatively well before the pandemic, with most of the owners earning above South Africa's monthly minimum wage. The paper also discovered that many foreign-owned small enterprises were impacted by a decline in demand during the lockdown, resulting in a loss of revenue, while some have struggled to recover post-COVID-19. Keywords: South Africa; COVID-19; Small Businesses; Migrants; Micro-Enterprises

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Journal Info

Abbrev

JEM

Publisher

Subject

Economics, Econometrics & Finance

Description

Tujuan dari jurnal ini adalah mempublikasikan artikel hasil penelitian dan kajian pustaka yang ditulis oleh dosen, peneliti dan mahasiwa. Adapun lingkup topik dari jurnal ini adalah : 1. Manajemen Umum 2. Manajemen Pemasaran 3. Sumberdaya Manusia 4. Keuangan 5. Manajemen Operasi 6. Manajemen ...