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broad based black economic empowermentlatest news & developments
NEF CEO Mziwabantu Dayimani (back row, left) with general counsel Karishma Govender, joined by NEF staff, congratulating reciipients of the fund launched to empower the black legal fraternity.
LEGAL SECTOR

SA legal sector set for a major shake-up

South Africa's legal sector remains largely untransformed after three decades of democracy, with white partners dominating top firms. The Legal Sector Codes are set to address…

  • Brian Sokutu
6 min read
BROAD BASED BLACK ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT

Samsung celebrates remarkable level 1 B-BBEE accomplishment for 8th consecutive year

Highlighting Commitment that Transcends Mere Compliance – An Enduring Dedication to Meaningful Economic Transformation in South Africa Samsung has reaffirmed its commitment to…

  • Samsung
5 min read
True blue: The Democratic Alliance wants to table a bill in parliament ending broad-based black economic empowerment policy. Photo: Supplied
ANC

ANC, DA in ugly war over ‘nonsense’ BEE bill

The fallout is the latest threat to the fragile government of national unity that has frequently come to the brink of collapse over policy clashes between its two largest parties

  • Lunga Mzangwe
8 min read
The DA argued that the BEE policy had been created by white-owned big businesses to give shares to politically connected people in order to keep the status quo and benefit a few people.
ANC

DA urges ANC and the rest of the GNU to support its bill aimed at scrapping BEE

The Democratic Alliance is arguing that it’s in the ANC’s electoral interests to back the proposal

  • Lunga Mzangwe
5 min read
Around the world, women continue to face structural barriers in accessing justice systems that are often expensive, complex, slow and, at times, retraumatising
ARTICLE

Business Unity SA takes labour department to court over employment equity targets

The organisation has criticised the way the Act was devised and says it risks damaging the economy

  • Aarti Bhana
3 min read
Dialogue vs delivery: Many have criticised the National Dialogue as yet another ‘talk shop’ much like the Zondo state capture commission and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (above). Photo: File
ACTIONSA

Hijacked: National Dialogue faces a credibility crisis

The DA claims it was proven right to boycott the dialogue after Deputy President Paul Mashatile instructed ministers to attend the convention virtually

  • Mandisa Makgakga
6 min read
Democratic Alliance leader John Steenhuisen. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
ACTIONSA

DA slams R700m national dialogue as pricey ‘talk shop’

Several prominent foundations have withdrawn from the national dialogue citing poor planning and questionable spending

  • Mandisa Makgakga
5 min read
Any discussion about black economic empowerment must weigh up its benefits, addressing historical injustices and the costs of not transforming the economy. Photo: File
B BBEE

Beyond the balance sheet: Costs and benefits of broad-based BEE

Any discussion about the policy must weigh up addressing historical injustices, its measurable and intangible benefits, and the costs of not transforming the economy

  • Safiyya Patel
6 min read
There has been progress since 1994. South Africa now has a black middle and upper middle class but the means of production remain largely owned by white people and black people swelling the ranks of labour. Photo: Mujahid Saofodien/AFP)
AFFIRMATIVE ACTION

A future without broad-based BEE and affirmative action is not possible

‘The new economic dispensation should match the aspiration for economic freedom and the fulfilment of the highest ideals of our democracy.’

  • Monde Ndlovu
8 min read
Influence: Several political parties have voiced concern about overreach and lack of accountability in the judiciary. Photo: Delwyn Verasamy/M&G
AFFIRMATIVE ACTION IN SOUTH AFRICA

From empowerment to elitism: The BBBEE dilemma and constitutional tensions

Rather than relying solely on racial quotas, a model that addresses socio-economic disadvantage more broadly could better align with the Constitution’s commitment to substantive…

  • Ismail Joosub
6 min read
With its roots in the country’s post-apartheid era, broad-based BEE has been a flashpoint of debate, hailed by some as a vital tool for economic transformation and denounced by others as a flawed instrument of racial preference.
ANC

What various coalition scenarios could mean for broad-based BEE

As the political horse trading begins, the fate of the controversial policy is uncertain

  • Siseko Maposa
4 min read
BLACK ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT

Harnessing women’s economic power can boost SA economy and create jobs

Given equal opportunities, female entrepreneurs can add enormous value to our economy.

  • Kebalepile Matlhako
9 min read
The drama at Dis-Chem shows that many firms are declining to transform because they can. (Dwayne Senior/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
BROAD BASED BLACK ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT

Enforce employment equity quotas in big companies

The drama at Dis-Chem shows that many firms are declining to transform because they can

  • Duma Gqubule
5 min read
According to the WHO, the two documents are being drafted with intentions of learning from failures in the management of the Covid-19 crisis and building upon its successes. Marco Longari/AFP
BBBEE

Stealthy state crimes during times of disaster

ANC cadres used the Covid-19 pandemic for self-enrichment under the guise of BBBEE

  • Casper Lӧtter
6 min read
Since its establishment in 2020, the Spaza-shop Support Programme has funded more than 6 000 small businesses around the country but many shop owners have bemoaned the poor communication around the scheme. Photo: Supplied
B BBEE

South Africans need to believe in broad-based black economic empowerment again

Implemented correctly, B-BBEE could shift the economy into a positive direction in as little as three to five years

  • Mitchan Adams
4 min read
Eskom told Parliament’s standing committee on public accounts that it was targeting suppliers mentioned in the Zondo report
BROAD BASED BLACK ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT

Eskom plans to streamline procurement in light of Zondo reports

‘Post state capture we’ve put in several controls on the procurement and contract management side,’ says power utility procurement executive

  • Anathi Madubela
3 min read
What empowerment? Minister of Mineral Resources Gwede Mantashe argues transformation of the mining sector has been ineffective. Although the majority of mineworkers (above) are black people, this is not reflected in mine ownership. (Madelene Cronjé)
BLACK BUSINESS COUNCIL

Once empowered, always empowered: Does the mining charter judgment rule out transformation?

Given the slow pace of change in mining and other sectors, some analysts have raised concerns that the ruling will cause empowerment efforts to unravel

  • Sarah Smit
7 min read
(John McCann/M&G)
B BBEE

The economy is the engine of reconciliation, and B-BBEE is the engine of transformation

The advent of democracy in 1994 merely created the conditions for transformation to begin

  • Monde Ndlovu
4 min read
AGRICULTURE

Empowerment financing slumps, but is still above target — banking sector report

The Banking Association South Africa’s report on transformation in the financial sector also found that black women voting rights reached its highest level since 2016

  • Sarah Smit
2 min read
Government policy for major tenders requires that 30% be awarded to local contractors to promote local skills development and economic opportunity. The idea behind this is well-intentioned. (Graphic: John McCann/M&G)
BROAD BASED BLACK ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT

Rid the infrastructure spend of patronage in the post-Covid-19 reconstruction

This can be done by making the project’s 30% of the budget for local broad-based black economic empowerment a separate budget to break the feedback loop that greases the wheels…

  • Philip Machanick
8 min read