New Partnership Helps To Boost Msme Funding In Kwazulu-natal

THE DURBAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY TEAMS UP WITH FINFIND

TO BOOST MSME FUNDING IN KWAZULU NATAL

Durban, South Africa – 07 May — The Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry NPC has announced a partnership with Finfind, South Africa’s leading online access-to-finance platform. This collaboration aims to help micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the region access funding more efficiently, improve funding readiness, and support local growth and job creation.

MSMEs continue to face barriers when it comes to securing finance for sustainable growth, including limited collateral, complex loan application processes with onerous supporting documentation requirements, high interest rates, and cash flow challenges from delayed payments.

“MSMEs are the backbone of our local economy, but many are constrained by financial barriers, limited market access, and regulatory challenges, in line with our strategic objective as the voice of business in eThekwini, it is important for us to continue to identify ways we can help support and educate MSMEs, as they are the backbone of business” says Ms Palesa Phili, Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry NPC. “This partnership is a practical step forward for MSMEs and is a direct response to the Chamber’s business survey, which highlighted access to finance as a primary challenge for this sector. It strengthens our ability to help businesses understand funding, become funding-ready, and access lenders that match their specific funding needs.”

A practical pathway to finance, built for MSME realities

The Durban Chamber states that partnering with Finfind aligns with its core mandate to strengthen and formalise MSMEs through partnerships that deliver measurable outcomes.

Finfind’s online platform streamlines the funding process by matching businesses with suitable funders from an up-to-date funder base of over 300 funders and more than 600 finance products. The funder matching process is automated and is data-driven, based on the business’s profile and funding needs, reducing the confusion and frustration of approaching multiple institutions and applying for the wrong finance offerings.

“Most business owners don’t know which funders or what finance products best fit their needs or what the various funders require from them; as a result, they waste a lot of time applying for funding they don’t qualify for. Finfind provides a centralised, transparent platform that has all the public and private funders in the country, that automatically matches the business owners with the right offerings, and guides them through the documentation and compliance steps needed to apply with confidence,” says Palesa Phili.

Addressing cash flow and working capital needs

Cash flow is a significant barrier to MSME stability and growth, especially when payment delays from large clients and government contracts strain liquidity. The partnership will help local businesses explore working capital solutions such as invoice financing, bridging finance, and asset-based lending. These tools can stabilise operations and unlock growth opportunities.

“This collaboration is about more than long-term funding; it also helps businesses address immediate cash flow needs. By helping entrepreneurs understand the available funding options and how to access them, we can reduce liquidity barriers that hold back otherwise viable businesses,” adds spokesperson.

Sector-wide benefits across eThekwini and KwaZulu-Natal

The Durban Chamber notes that improved access to finance will have broad regional benefit across eThekwini’s diverse economy — particularly for manufacturing and industrial firms, tourism and hospitality businesses, logistics and transport enterprises linked to Durban’s port economy, agriculture and agro-processing, township and informal enterprises, and the growing technology and start-up ecosystem.

Darlene Menzies, CEO of Finfind, says that the partnership aligns with Finfind’s mission to improve access to finance for MSMEs, especially those excluded by banks and other traditional lenders.

“With high unemployment remaining one of South Africa’s most urgent challenges, the role of MSMEs in scaling job creation and stimulating inclusive economic growth has never been more critical. Formal micro enterprises with turnovers of less than R1 million a year are responsible for over 80% of the jobs created by MSMEs and make up more than 85% of the funding need, yet they are the most underserved by funders. If we are serious about job creation, we must invest all our efforts in supporting the businesses that are creating the jobs,” adds Menzies.

Measurable outcomes over the next year

Over the next 12 months, the Durban Chamber aims to increase the number of local MSMEs successfully accessing loans, grants and investment; improve funding readiness through stronger financial literacy and compliance; support business sustainability and job creation; strengthen the Chamber’s support ecosystem; and enable more data-driven decision-making through insights into funding patterns and gaps.

“Our focus over the next 12 months is outcomes — more funded businesses, stronger compliance and financial discipline, and real growth that translates into local jobs. This partnership strengthens our value proposition to members and gives us a credible tool to track impact and refine our support to the MSME community,” concludes Palesa.

Media are invited to attend the official collaborative partnership event, that will see the official launch of the Finfind portal on the Durban Chamber website, this is also an opportunity for a networking afternoon at the Durban Chamber’s BizVoice Network Friday.

Event launch details:

Friday, 8 May 2026

17:00, The Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry NPC offices, The Murray Grindrod Room (101 Isaiah Ntshangase Road, Stamford Hill, Durban)

Ends.

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