The company reported a headline earnings per share - the main profit measure in South Africa - of 969 cents for the year ended March 31, down from 1,009 cents a year earlier.

Like other retailers, the owner of sports apparel Totalsports and jewelry store Sterns has had to endure soaring inflation and incessant power cuts.

Stores have seen a decreased footfall due to the power cuts, the company said, and estimates the rolling blackouts to have reduced turnover at its Africa operation in excess of 1.5 billion rand ($79.63 million).

South Africa is facing its worst rolling blackouts on record, leaving households and businesses without power for up to 10 hours daily.

($1 = 18.8374 rand)

(Reporting by Tannur Anders; Editing by Toby Chopra and Sriraj Kalluvila)