Sponsored Links:
Sponsored Links:
inlsa
Standard Bank South Africa chief executive Sim Tshabalala. Photo: Simphiwe Mbokazi.
Not getting access to finance was a common complaint from small firms, Standard Bank South Africa chief executive Sim Tshabalala said on Wednesday.
“Access to finance for small firms, particularly from start-ups, continues to be a challenge,” Tshabalala said in Johannesburg at a Black Management Forum panel on job creation.
This was because small businesses often had weak balance sheets and few assets. While Tshabalala recognised the need to provide loans to new businesses, he defended the stringency of providing financing.
“The most important thing a bank does is that we have to make absolutely certain the loan gets repaid. If it does not get repaid, banks become insolvent.
“People say we should be taking risks, (but) we should be making absolutely certain that when you go to the bank to draw your hard-earned salary (the funds are there).”
He said that while small businesses might have valid business plans and good histories, they often lacked capital or cash flow.
“Because of the history of our country the majority of people do not have their parent's pensions or homes passed on to them.”
Tshabalala denied there was a lack of funding for small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
“There’s a myth that there’s a shortage of funding for SMEs. If anything there’s a surfeit of funding.” - Sapa
) and select "Flag as inappropriate". Our moderators will take action if need be.
 |
 |
 |
 |
Services
Buying a car has never been easy. Motoring.co.za contains a large database of car listings with a user friendly search.
Start searching today »
Financial Tools
You are here: IOL / Business / Business News / ‘Access to finance is a challenge’
We like to make your life easier
Mobile
Browse IOL on your phone at m.iol.co.za.
Newsletters
Subscribe to our newsletters. News delivered to your inbox!
