Pieter de Wit, CFO at JSE-listed Afrimat, explains why the company – which announced a stunning set of results in the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic – cut its debt to almost nothing at a time when debt is so cheap. Those companies that survive this crisis are those that get bullet-proof balance sheets.

Justine Hoppe, director for restructuring and recovery at Mazars, says we should brace ourselves for a wave of liquidations and business rescue applications as a result of the Coronavirus lockdown. Confronting this early, rather than late, may be the less painful solution.

Lauren du Plooy, a Saiba member and director at Rae & Associates, has been advising clients for years to set aside reserves sufficient to cover two or three months of expenses. Most of her clients followed this advice and are able to survive this crisis because of it.

Bernard Schoeman set up The Tax Shop more than a decade ago as an accounting and tax consulting business and has seen it grow to more than 70 franchises across the sub-continent. He explains the formula for running a successful practice, and the benefits you get from being part of a large knowledge-based organisation – particularly now that clients are looking to accountants to help them through these tough times.

Earl Steyn, founder and CEO of Draftworx, gives in in-depth insight into how accountants are grappling with increasingly complex reporting and compliance obligations during lockdown - and provides a fascinating look at which companies are likely to survive the lockdown, and those that won't.

Guillaume Oberholster, regional manager for Mazars, delves into the various financial relief packages available to businesses as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and explains why some companies have been unable to access funds. He urges employers to stay positive in these extraordinary times as there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Gerhard Papenfus, CEO of the National Employers Association of SA (Neasa), talks about the experience of small businesses trying to stay afloat during lockdown - and it's not a pretty picture.

Accfin founder Mark Silberman says many companies won’t survive the economic lockdown. But new opportunities are opening up for those who embrace the right technologies.

Economist Mike Schussler believes the worst is yet to come from the Covid-19 economic slump – though a recovery in the latter part of the year is on its way.