The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown measures adopted across the globe not only affect the health sector but similarly impact all of society including the economic sector. The South African economy is strongly affected as business activity across all spheres have largely come to a halt. One of the key economic effects of the pandemic is on the small, medium- and microsized enterprise (SMME) sector, which have been left vulnerable and reeling with a need for government and institutional support. Given the crucial importance of the SMME sector in the South African economy, urgent policy measures need to be explored to ensure that SMMEs withstand the impact of the current lockdown and effects of the broader pandemic.