South Africa has seen 245 more liquidations in 2026, with June figures accelerating from May. Year-to-date, 1,361 businesses have been shuttered.
According to the latest liquidation statistics from Stats SA, the total number of liquidations for June 2026 was flat compared to June 2025, where 246 were recorded.
The total closures between January and June 2026 are also flat compared to the same period last year, declining slightly by 0.9%.
Stats SA’s liquidations data show that businesses in the finance, insurance, real estate, and business services sectors continue to be hardest hit by liquidations.This is followed by trade, catering and accommodation, which is also frequently hit.
Notably, the number of compulsory liquidations—typically court-ordered and more broadly reflective of business stress—increased year-on-year, pointing to continued strain in 2026.
21 companies were forced to close in June, compared with 16 ordered to liquidate in June 2025.
As is the wider trend in South Africa, most (91%) liquidations are voluntary, which could be for a myriad of reasons.However, when weighed against Stats SA’s reinstated insolvency data, published last week, it is clear that solvency problems remain a significant challenge.
Insolvencies are fundamentally different from liquidation.
Liquidation refers to the winding-up of the affairs of a company or close corporation when liabilities exceed assets. This can be done on a voluntary basis or by court order.
While liquidation can result from insolvency, it is not necessarily reflective of such. Legal experts in the field have noted that voluntary liquidations, especially, could reflect standard business activity.
Insolvency, however, refers to an individual or partnership which is unable to pay its debts and is placed under final sequestration.
Stats SA stopped tracking insolvencies in April 2023, when the data releases at the time were split from tracking both liquidations and insolvencies into two separate reports.
While data on liquidations continued, data on insolvencies were delayed following a cyber incident at the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development in 2021. However, when weighed against Stats SA’s reinstated insolvency data, published last week, it is clear that solvency problems remain a significant challenge.
Insolvencies are fundamentally different from liquidation.
Liquidation refers to the winding-up of the affairs of a company or close corporation when liabilities exceed assets. This can be done on a voluntary basis or by court order.
While liquidation can result from insolvency, it is not necessarily reflective of such.Legal experts in the field have noted that voluntary liquidations, especially, could reflect standard business activity.
Insolvency, however, refers to an individual or partnership which is unable to pay its debts and is placed under final sequestration.
Stats SA stopped tracking insolvencies in April 2023, when the data releases at the time were split from tracking both liquidations and insolvencies into two separate reports.
While data on liquidations continued, data on insolvencies were delayed following a cyber incident at the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development in 2021.As a result, South Africa has had no data on insolvencies for several years. However, these reports have now been reinstated.
Looking at the latest data, Stats SA recorded 61 insolvencies in June. For the first half of the year, the country recorded 753 insolvencies. The star, real name Vincent Belorgey, enjoyed a slow-burning hit with his 2010 track Nightcall, which later soundtracked the opening credits of the stylish neo-noir crime movie Drive, starring Ryan Gosling.
After Kavinsky performed it at the Paris 2024 Olympics closing ceremony, the modern synthwave cult classic became the most Shazamed song in a single day in the history of the music identifying app.
Fellow French DJ David Guetta described him as “a true icon of French electronic music”, while singer and collaborator The Weekend said he was “an inspiration”.
“Thank you for creating a sound that was entirely your own and for leaving us with music that will continue to inspire,” added Guetta.”Thank you for your kindness and simplicity.”
France President Emmanuel Macron said the artist was “a source of French pride forever”.
Culture Minister Catherine Pégard wrote on X: “With the sudden passing of Kavinsky, France has lost one of its most unique voices.”
She added: “From the film Drive to the Paris Olympics, the whole world was moved by Nightcall. Both danceable and nostalgic, his music will continue to transcend generations and borders.”
The Paris prosecutor’s office said in a statement that Kavinsky had been found dead at his home in the French capital on Tuesday, Reuters and French media outlets reported.The BBC has contacted the DJ’s representatives for confirmation.
French newspaper Le Figaro reported Kavinsky had been complaining of headaches for several days, and authorities think he may have had a stroke.
No suspicious items were discovered at the scene by the first responders and Paris prosecutors have now opened an investigation to determine the cause of death, the outlet said.
‘An inspiration to so many’
Self-taught pianist Belorgey was born on the outskirts of Paris, in Seine-Saint-Denis. And he launched his career in the early 2000s, opening for French electro pioneers Daft Punk. “Thank you for your kindness and simplicity.”
France President Emmanuel Macron said the artist was “a source of French pride forever”.
Culture Minister Catherine Pégard wrote on X: “With the sudden passing of Kavinsky, France has lost one of its most unique voices.”
She added: “From the film Drive to the Paris Olympics, the whole world was moved by Nightcall. Both danceable and nostalgic, his music will continue to transcend generations and borders.”
The Paris prosecutor’s office said in a statement that Kavinsky had been found dead at his home in the French capital on Tuesday, Reuters and French media outlets reported.The BBC has contacted the DJ’s representatives for confirmation.
French newspaper Le Figaro reported Kavinsky had been complaining of headaches for several days, and authorities think he may have had a stroke.
No suspicious items were discovered at the scene by the first responders and Paris prosecutors have now opened an investigation to determine the cause of death, the outlet said.
‘An inspiration to so many’
Self-taught pianist Belorgey was born on the outskirts of Paris, in Seine-Saint-Denis. And he launched his career in the early 2000s, opening for French electro pioneers Daft Punk.Kavinsky – his red-eyed zombie DJ alter ego – was part of the second wave of influential “French Touch” artists including the likes of Justice and Sebastian.
Nightcall was produced with Daft Punk’s Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo, mixed by Sebastian and sung by Brazilian singer Lovefoxxx.
The track was covered by London Grammar in 2013, taking it to an even broader audience.
At Paris 2024, though, Belgian singer Angèle took on lead vocal duties, performing a memorable version of it to close the games alongside Kavinsky and French band Phoenix.
She posted a picture of herself with the late DJ and producer on her Instagram story on Wednesday. “Immense sadness,” she wrote above the photograph.
“Thank you for letting me experience that unforgettable moment on stage with you, and the entire adventure that followed.”
Kavinsky collaborated with another singer, Canadian star The Weeknd on a version of a different track titled Odd Look, taken from his 2013 debut album OutRun.
The Starboy singer, whose real name is Abel Tesfaye, paid his respects on X, offering: “So heartbreaking to hear the news.
“An inspiration to so many, including myself.
“I will continue to honour your name and your music. Rest easy, Kavinsky.”In a 2008 interview, Belorgey revealed that he had created the fun character Kavinsky because putting his face on record sleeves didn’t suit him.
“Showing my own face holds absolutely no interest for me,” he said.
“I’d much rather make music and tell a story, because for me music is linked to images. When I’m making music, I have images in my head of films and television shows I liked when I was little.
“So I created this story that mixes all those memories together.”
The Mayor of Paris, Emmanuel Gregoire, expressed his “deep sadness” at the news of his death.
“A child of Paris, he carried the colours of the French electronic scene high across the world, establishing a unique musical universe imbued with both nostalgia and modernity,” he wrote.
“In this moment of mourning, my thoughts go to his family, his loved ones, and all those who found themselves in his music.”
