SMMEs . SMMEs lack access to finance because of a lack of adequate equity capital and collateral often required by banks before they can fund small businesses. . A lack of awareness of available Government services offered to SMMEs and the role of the DFIs. In addition, many rural areas and informal settlements do not have access to information and the technology used in accessing microfinance. . Participants who know about Khula, South African Micro-Finance Apex Fund (samaf) and IDC complain about the red tape and cumbersome processes that are a barrier to accessing the financial services. . Applicants find it difficult to meet the DFI requirements. DFIs seem to be structured in more or less the same way as banks. For instance, they require the same threshold of own capital contributions and collateral as commercial banks.