BUSINESS PARTNERS – Small businesses urged to ‘go solar’ following the 2023 Budget Speech

Loading player...
GUEST – Jeremy Lang - Chief Investment Officer at Business Partners Limited



If anything, the 2023 Budget Speech revealed it was that devising a targeted plan to solve South Africa’s ongoing energy crisis remains the government’s top priority. The immediate future will see a concerted and collective focus on bringing together the public and private sectors in a bid to fuel the clean-energy transition and end loadshedding.



For small businesses looking to ride this wave on the path to post-pandemic recovery, the key is to “go solar”. This is the opinion of Jeremy Lang, Chief Investment Officer at independent small- and medium-sized enterprise (SME) financier, Business Partners Limited. Prior to the Budget Speech, Lang aired hopes that “large-scale interventions” would be on the cards for the small business sector in the form of much-needed relief measures. In light of the almost single-minded focus on boosting embedded generation efforts through various fiscal measures and policy reforms, this year’s speech delivered little in the way of SME-specific relief. It did, however, propose several measures that speak to the urgent need for government to address the resounding impact that rolling blackouts have had on small businesses.
6 Mar 2023 10AM English South Africa Business News · Investing

Other recent episodes

Manufacturing Slips: June Absa PMI Signals Q2 Strain

Absa Economist Sello Sekele unpacks June’s PMI decline from 50.8 to 47.3, the impact of easing Middle East tensions on fuel prices, the sharp drop in purchasing price pressures, weakening demand as buyers delay purchases, and why employment and inventories point to continued strain in South Africa’s manufacturing sector.
2 Jul 1PM 12 min

Tax Season Scams: AI Fraud, WhatsApp Spoofing & Digital Red Flags

Cybercriminals are exploiting tax‑season anxiety with AI‑generated phishing emails, cloned SARS websites, WhatsApp spoofing and payroll‑related scams. Lucas Molefe explains why 2026 is a high‑risk year, how scammers mimic official communication, and the digital hygiene habits that protect your identity and refund. Essential listening for every taxpayer.
2 Jul 1PM 9 min

Tax Season 2026: Must-Knows with Commissioner Dr. Johnstone Makhubu

SARS Commissioner Dr. Johnstone Makhubu unpacks the 2026 Filing Season, from the phased rollout and enhanced risk engine to the rise of auto‑assessments. He explains how taxpayers should interpret assessments, and navigate a more targeted audit environment. A clear, practical guide to filing smarter this year.
2 Jul 12PM 17 min

The Second Bond: The Hidden Costs Homebuyers Miss

Jonathan Kohler exposes the “second bond” — the monthly bill homeowners face before paying their actual home loan. From R4,000–R7,000 in Johannesburg and Cape Town to over R11,500 in Umhlanga, we unpack levies, utilities, maintenance, special levies and municipal tariffs that determine true affordability. A must‑listen for buyers, investors and…
1 Jul 1PM 27 min

SA New Vehicle Sales post strongest June result since 2007

South Africa’s new vehicle market delivered a standout June performance despite inflation, fuel price spikes and weaker consumer confidence. Dr Paulina Mamogobo, Chief Economist at NAAMSA, breaks down the domestic resilience, export pressures, shifting macroeconomic signals, and what these trends mean for the industry heading into the second half of…
1 Jul 12PM 20 min