SAAC is a business rescue practice licensed by the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC). We act for distressed companies across Johannesburg from our office at West Tower, 2nd Floor, Nelson Mandela Square, Maude Street, Sandton. The first discussion is free and confidential.
No obligation. Speak to a licensed practitioner today.
A business rescue licence is issued nationally by the CIPC, so the practitioner who takes your appointment may act anywhere in South Africa. What matters is presence. From the Sandton office we reach a factory in Kya Sand, a warehouse in Aeroton or a professional firm in Rosebank within an hour's drive, and the practitioner works on site at the company's premises for as long as the rescue needs it. Our second office is in Stellenbosch, and we take appointments across the country.
The City of Johannesburg's unemployment rate rose to 35.9 per cent in the second quarter of 2026, up from 34.7 per cent in the first quarter, according to the Stats SA Quarterly Labour Force Survey released in August 2026. The metro shed 28 000 jobs in a single quarter and now carries a higher rate than Ekurhuleni at 34.6 per cent and Tshwane at 34.2 per cent. For a company trading in Johannesburg that reads as weaker demand, slower debtors and customers who stretch payment terms. Nationally, 239 companies and close corporations were liquidated in July 2026, fewer than the 311 of July 2025, but the largest sources were finance, real estate and business services, then trade, catering and accommodation, where much of Johannesburg's economy sits.
The City itself is in distress. In a letter dated 23 April 2026 the Minister of Finance told the Mayor that the City owed creditors R25.2 billion against R3.9 billion in cash, and called this a marker of severe financial distress. The JSE had already suspended the City's listed debt instruments on 27 March 2026 for failing to publish audited financial statements, and lifted the suspension only on 1 June. In May Eskom gave notice of its intention to interrupt bulk supply over R5.25 billion in arrears. Johannesburg Water reported reservoirs critically low or empty from late January 2026, with parts of Soweto, Berea, Midrand and Orange Farm dry for days, and further outages in Newlands, Alexandra and Westbury in late May. Each failure lands on a business's cost line.
Property tells the same story. SAPOA's first quarter 2026 survey put Johannesburg's office vacancy at 15.5 per cent, the highest of the major metros, with the Johannesburg CBD, Sandton and Midrand holding the largest count of distressed buildings in the country. Office space in the metro has traded at about R10 121 per square metre since 2020 against R20 524 in Cape Town, and one analysis published in July 2026 put the resulting discount on the City's commercial stock at R196 billion. Landlords with half-empty buildings, contractors waiting on municipal payment, and manufacturers absorbing water and power interruptions all feel it. Then there is SARS, which in July 2026 reported R532 billion in undisputed tax debt and is collecting it through final demands and third-party appointments.
Areas we act in: Sandton, Rosebank, Midrand, Randburg, Fourways, Roodepoort, Soweto, Johannesburg CBD, Wynberg, Kya Sand, Aeroton, Germiston and elsewhere across the metro. See also business rescue in Gauteng.
Applications and court matters arising from a rescue in Johannesburg are dealt with in the Gauteng Division of the High Court, Johannesburg, which sits as the local seat of the Division. Since 1 July 2026 that seat has exclusive jurisdiction over the Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni, Sedibeng and West Rand magisterial districts under Government Notice 7648 in Government Gazette 54935 of 2 July 2026, which ended the concurrent jurisdiction with Pretoria that had applied since 2018. A company with its registered office or principal place of business in Sandton, Soweto, Germiston or Vereeniging therefore brings a section 131 application, or defends a liquidation application, in Johannesburg and not in Pretoria. Matters already enrolled for trial before 1 July 2026 continue where they were.
You are not alone. Thousands of South African business owners face these pressures every year — and most can be resolved through business rescue if you act in time.
When cash flow dries up, creditors are at your door, or liquidation feels unavoidable, it is overwhelming. You have invested years — sometimes decades — building your company. The thought of losing it all is devastating.
But there is still a way forward — if you act now. Business rescue under Chapter 6 of the Companies Act provides a legally protected pathway to restructure, stabilise, and recover. SAAC has guided over 130 companies through this process.
The single most important thing you can do right now is speak to a licensed practitioner. It costs nothing to have that conversation, and it could save everything.
Talk to a Practitioner NowWe specialise in helping South African companies avoid liquidation and regain stability through proven, legally structured rescue strategies.
Immediate moratorium on creditor claims under Chapter 6 of the Companies Act — buying you the time and space to restructure.
Bespoke business rescue plans developed by experienced practitioners — realistic, legally compliant, and stakeholder-approved.
Expert negotiation with banks, SARS, suppliers, and landlords to restructure debt and preserve stakeholder value.
Operational restructuring, cash flow management, and post-rescue support to restore profitability and long-term stability.
From your first confidential call to full recovery, we guide you through every step of the business rescue process.
We start by understanding your unique situation — finances, creditors, operations, and options — in complete confidence.
We develop a legally compliant rescue plan designed to stabilise your business and protect employees, creditors, and shareholders.
We handle all creditor negotiations, court filings, and legal protections — so you can focus on running the business.
We guide you through execution, monitor progress, and provide ongoing support until your business is back on solid ground.
Having gone through the same experience of starting SAAC, I feel your pain. I can remember those days and nights when business demanded too much — up early trying to crack problems, often pondering if success would come tomorrow. It's understandable, but now you know you are not alone. This is where SAAC comes in: so that one does not ever arrive at such a point, overpowered or left in darkness when business challenges hit.
Big businesses or small, no matter the industry, we stand as a reliable ally. We do more than business rescue, restructuring, or distressed turnarounds — we provide something invaluable: hope and support when things are tough.
Every business is different, but some questions come up again and again. Here are quick answers to help guide your next step.
Every day you delay, your options narrow and risks grow. Business rescue is only available to companies that are financially distressed — not yet insolvent. The window to act is now.
Our practitioners are available for immediate consultation. Call, email, or visit one of our offices.
West Tower, 2nd Floor
Nelson Mandela Square
Maude Street, Sandton 2146
Ground Floor, The Vineyard Office Park
Building 2B, Devon Valley Road
Stellenbosch 7600