Joubert, chairman of the South African Council of Retailers and chairman of Platinum Holdings, which houses upmarket brands Jenni Button, Hilton Weiner and Aca Joe among others, said "acts of abuse" and "atrocities" against small tenants were committed regularly in the South African retail industry .

Joubert said the retail market was "excessively concentrated" and monopolised by large landlords.

He also said small retailers cross-subsidised large retailers' rental in shopping centres in SA. "It is killing the little guys across the country."

But Brian Kantor, an investment strategist at Investec Securities, disagreed , saying that no single player dominated. Without large tenants the small retailers would not operate, he said.

Business Day