Although local in its distribution, Pavetta barbertonensis occurs in more than 10 locations with few threats and is said to be common where it occurs. Hence it is assessed as Least Concern. It was assessed nationally as Least Concern and Lower Risk-least concern for Eswatini (Dlamini and Dlamini 2002, Loffler and Loffler 2005) and also for South Africa (Raimondo et al. 2009). An earlier assessment (Hilton-Taylor 1996) listed it as Rare for both Eswatini and South Africa.

This newly-described species is found in the Barberton area of Mpumalanga Province in eastern South Africa and adjacent parts of northwestern Eswatini, and in the Lebombo Mountains, where it is confined to serpentine soils and rhyolite (Coates Palgrave and Coates Palgrave 2002, Braun et al. 2004, Loffler and Loffler 2005).

No population data are available, although the species is reported as being common in Eswatini (Loffler and Loffler 2005).

Pavetta barbertonensis is a small shrub up to 2 m high (Coates Palgrave and Coates Palgrave 2002). It is found in dense shade on serpentine soils in the Barberton area (Coates Palgrave and Coates Palgrave 2002) and in evergreen forest and along the margins of dry Lebombo forest in Eswatini (Loffler and Loffler 2005).

There appear to be no particular threats to the species as it mostly occurs on mineral-toxic serpentine soils that are not suited to agriculture. However, there is probably some loss of forest habitat in places for grazing or settlement, but this unlikely to be enough to significantly change the species' status.

The species has been used for ritualistic purposes in Eswatini (Loffler and Loffler 2005).

The species occurs in some protected areas in Eswatini and in some private reserves in Mpumalanga.