**4. Findings and discussion**

The main aim of this chapter is to document the positive and negative impact Covid-19 has had on women entrepreneurs in South Africa. This study also provided an understanding of the essential roles that female entrepreneurs played in the economy and compared the actions taken to help female entrepreneurs by the South African government and other governments.

#### **4.1 The importance of female entrepreneurs**

Although the number of female entrepreneurs in the country are far less than male entrepreneurs, female entrepreneurs play a vital role in contributing to the economic well-being of a nation. These businesses contribute to the GDP of the economy. This means that women entrepreneurs also form part of the backbone of the country's economy. Many women who own their businesses are also the breadwinners in their homes and therefore rely on the revenue their business earns. Since many women entrepreneurs fall under the SME and SMME, these sectors were the most vulnerable and largely impacted by Covid-19.

The findings demonstrate that female entrepreneurs create jobs, decrease poverty, motivate other females and contribute to the overall well-being of the economy. According to [3], nine out of a hundred females participate in early entrepreneurial activity. The findings in this study further revealed the lack of importance placed on female entrepreneurs in South African countries and the lack of research conducted on female entrepreneurs in South Africa. Women entrepreneurs also play an essential role in society by empowering one another and providing jobs to locals.
