The economic outlook for 2020 is beyond dismal. While the South African government’s swift and decisive response to the Covid-19 pandemic cannot be faulted, it has come at a huge economic cost. Thousands of businesses are in grave peril and millions of jobs are at risk. Business confidence has fallen precipitously, and most major capital investments are either being delayed, deferred or cancelled as business leaders turn their attention from growth to survival. Indeed, it’s simply too early to see the bottom of the economic slump.