A Mastercard SME Confidence Index report says South African small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are placing greater emphasis on digital tools as they plan for growth. One highlighted indicator is financial management practices: 85% of SMEs use dedicated business cards to manage business expenses, reflecting continued attention to separating and tracking costs. The report also characterises the wider business environment as showing a relatively high level of digital and commercial maturity among local SMEs compared with regional peers. Across the sources provided, the key theme is that SMEs are adopting practical digital solutions linked to day-to-day operations and expense management. The information does not indicate a specific timeframe or provide comparative figures beyond the regional positioning claim. Overall, the coverage portrays South African SMEs as combining financial discipline with growing adoption of digital tools to support their development plans.