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Dominic Naidoo | 27 September 2024 As South Africa continues to shift towards a low-carbon economy, youth across the country are calling for increased involvement in the Just Energy Transition (JET), highlighting the critical role they play in securing a sustainable future. The recent National Youth Statement compiled at the Local Conference of Youth South Africa in August 2024, referencing the JET Implementation Plan 2023–2027, criticises the government for not adequately centring their voices in the process, despite being among the most vulnerable to climate change. In the "Youth Statement" young people argue that they will be the most affected by the ongoing climate crisis. They reference the IPCC AR6 Synthesis Report, which states that youth, especially from marginalised communities, will face disproportionate impacts from climate change. Despite this, the JET Implementation Plan only mentions youth 17 times, with little emphasis on their role in shaping the transition. "We cannot afford to be sidelined in a process that will determine our futures," the statement declares. The statement also touched on the lingering impacts of apartheid-era spatial planning that continue to exacerbate environmental injustices. Under apartheid, black and brown communities were systematically relocated to areas with heavy polluting industries, resulting in poor living conditions and significant health risks. These areas still suffer from inadequate infrastructure, insufficient waste management, and poor access to clean water. The youth highlight the need for the Just Transition to address these historical inequalities. "The Just Transition must focus on restorative justice, ensuring that the mistakes of the past are not repeated," the statement reads. Without targeted interventions, the risks posed by climate change, such as water scarcity and food insecurity, will continue to disproportionately affect vulnerable communities. Youth unemployment remains a significant barrier to meaningful participation in climate action. With an unemployment rate of 33.5% and many young people lacking the necessary skills to thrive in the green economy, there are concerns that the Just Transition may deepen existing inequalities if educational and capacity-building programs are not prioritised. "Young people in many communities face dire socio-economic conditions, which makes it difficult to engage with climate issues meaningfully," the Youth Statement notes. In addition, there is a general lack of awareness around climate change in low-income communities, with many perceiving it as an issue for the affluent. This has led to low public participation in climate-related initiatives. The youth are calling for enhanced stakeholder engagement to ensure that their voices are not only heard but also integrated into decision-making processes. In line with Decision 1/CMA.4 from COP27, the youth demand mechanisms to support their participation in national and international forums on climate change. "We urge the state to establish synergy between the JET Implementation Plan and the Just Transition Framework, ensuring distributive, restorative, and procedural justice," they assert. The statement further calls for comprehensive social protection measures to support communities affected by the transition, particularly those reliant on industries like coal. It stresses the importance of creating employment opportunities in green sectors and supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in driving innovation within the green economy. ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://www.iol.co.za/news/environment/youth-statement-calls-for-inclusion-in-south-africas-just-transition-afdbbdc8-0f98-4fd7-8b4d-25198bcdf964

With the introduction of the Legal B-BBEE Sector Codes Of Good Practice , there are a few key concepts to take note of that differ from the Amended General B-BBEE Codes of Good Practice. These concepts apply strictly to the Legal B-BBEE Sector Codes Of Good Practice. A few of those key concepts identified are as follows:   Advocate means a legal practitioner who is admitted and enrolled as such in terms of the LPA;   Associate means an attorney employed in such a capacity by an LSME in terms of an employment agreement concluded by these parties;  Attorney means a legal practitioner who is admitted and enrolled as such in terms of the LPA;   51% black owned means an LSME in which: black people hold at least 51% of the exercisable voting rights; and black people hold at least 51% of the economic interest;   51% black women owned means an LSME in which: black women hold at least 51% of the exercisable voting rights; and black women hold at least 51% of the economic interest; Board of directors means, in respect of an incorporated LSME, a body that is constituted by the directors of such LSME, and in respect of a partnership, a body which is constituted by the partners of such an LSME, which, in each event, is responsible for the executive management decisions and/or strategic direction of such an LSME;   Designated categories means black women, black youth, black people with disabilities and black people from the rural areas, as contemplated in this LSC;   ELE means an exempted law firm which generates annual revenue of not more than R5 million or an advocate who generates annual revenue of not more than R3 million and is exempted from measurement as contemplated n this LSC respectively;   Equity partner/director means a partner or a director, the latter notwithstanding the definition ascribed to that term in the Companies Act, who has an ownership interest in an LSME and shares in the profits of that LSME and is liable for the expenses and liabilities of such an LSME;   Executive management for the purposes of this LSC, means executive management shall be constituted by members of the various sub-committees established by the board including any executive committee, or in the case of a partnership, an equivalent structure to carry out and implement specific functions and/or duties, as may be delegated to such sub-committees by the board, from time to time. Such members may include without limitation, managing partners, chairpersons and chief executive persons who are attorneys;   Incorporated LSME means an LSME constituted, organised, and incorporated by one or more attorneys in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act, and registered and established as a law firm with the LPC in terms of the provisions of the LPA;   Large LSME means an LSME which generates a total revenue of more than R25 million per annum in the case of a law firm and more than R15 million in the case of an advocate;   Law firm means an LSME which has been established by one or more attorneys and is duly registered with the LPC, in terms of the provisions of the LPA, for the purposes of engaging in the business and practice of law in South Africa;   Legal practitioner shall bear the meaning ascribed to that term in the LPA, but for the purposes of the LSC, it shall include only: attorneys registered with the LPC and practicing as such; and advocates, registered with the LPC and practicing as such;   LPA means the Legal Practice Act No. 28 of 2014, as amended;   LPC means the Legal Practice Council, which is a national statutory body established in terms of section 4 of the LPA. The LPC and its provincial councils regulate the affairs of and exercise jurisdiction over all legal practitioners (attorneys and advocates) and candidate attorneys and pupils;   LSC means this Legal Sector Code, gazetted in terms of section 9(1) of the B-BBEE Act;   LSME means a Legal Sector Measured Entity in the form of a law firm in the case of attorneys whether as sole practitioner, in a partnership, an incorporated legal entity or an individual advocate;   LSTF means the Legal Sector Transformation Fund to be established in terms of paragraph 37 of this LSC, by the Charter Council, for the purpose of receiving and administering contributions made by qualifying LSMEs and advocates and any ELEs seeking enhanced recognition in terms of this LSC, to provide financial assistance and support to black legal practitioners and for transformation-related purposes as may be determined by the Charter Council from time to time;   Partner means an attorney who has been employed in such capacity by an LSME who is entitled to the profits of such LSME and is liable for its expenses and liabilities;   Partnership means an LSME, other than an incorporated LSME established and constituted by two or more attorneys, registered with the LPC in accordance with relevant provisions of the LPA, to manage and oversee the business operations of such LSME and share the profits and liabilities of such LSME;   PGL means Practice Group Leaders, who are generally equivalent and have the same rank as the heads of departments within the LSME, and carry out the same mandate and/or functions, as heads of departments, as the case may be, within an LSME;   Salaried Director for the purposes of this LSC means, notwithstanding the definition ascribed to that term in the Companies Act, an attorney employed in that capacity by an LSME who does not participate in the profits of the LSME nor has a legal entitlement to such profits and is not liable for the expenses and liabilities of such LSME;   Sole Practitioner means an LSME, which, in the case of attorneys, a firm which has been established and is operated by a single attorney as a law firm and registered with the LPC in terms of the provisions of the LPA;   Technical Services  are available to guide Members in understanding the new requirements of the Legal B-BBEE Sector Codes of Good Practice

Creamer Media | 25 September 2024 Leading manufacturer and supplier FUCHS LUBRICANTS SOUTH AFRICA is not only committed to local innovation , but also has extensive training initiatives in place to foster youth development. By aligning closely with industry trends and technological advancements, the FUCHS training programmes enhance overall employability and add to the industry’s skills base, comments HR Executive Annelia Tshabalala. FUCHS contributes to youth development through internships and learnerships, bursaries, and vacation employment, among others. Its internship programme enhances theoretical skills obtained from higher education by means of practical work exposure in chosen fields, with guidance from mentors and managers. “Most interns who have completed the programmes successfully have obtained permanent employment either at FUCHS or other companies,” reveals Tshabalala. Youth who have completed Grade 12 and progressed to an institution of higher learning are also eligible for bursary sponsorship. Such students are afforded the opportunity for vacation employment at the FUCHS Isando head office during the June and December school holidays. While the criteria for the various initiatives include youth from diverse backgrounds, preference is given to economically disadvantaged high school learners. Maths4All and MATHAMIND advance mathematics skills so as to increase the overall pass rate and encourage learners to opt for the maths and science stream to be able to venture into various STEM careers. Looking ahead, Tshabalala says FUCHS has plans to participate in various career exhibitions at different institutions of higher learning to raise awareness about the diverse career opportunities in the lubricants industry. “The practical use of technology in our training programmes not only enhances learning effectiveness and efficiency , but it also ensures learners are equipped with the skills and knowledge demanded in today’s ever-evolving industry,” highlights Tshabalala. Online platforms deliver content efficiently through online modules that include quizzes based on the content, affording learners added flexibility. In addition, participants are trained using modern machinery equipment and software relevant to their respective fields. “This on-hands experience with advanced equipment and software thus prepares them to meet industry standards and operate efficiently in a real-world setting,” concludes Tshabalala.  ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/fuchs-training-initiatives-foster-youth-development-and-employability-2024-09-25

Neesa Moodley | 24 September 2024 A new report shows that women need more support when establishing a business. Francinah Phalatsi recommends that women entrepreneurs should start with a simple business plan to use as a roadmap early on. Whether their aim is to attract funding or just to measure progress. The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) South Africa Report 2023/2024 released by Stellenbosch Business School last month showed that women are more likely to need support in the initial phase of starting a business, that critical phase before they reach three and a half years. It also showed that only 4.9% of women entrepreneurs get to the point where they employ 20 or more people. Natanya Meyer, lead-author of the report, is associate professor in the Department of Business Management and chair for Entrepreneurship Education at the University of Johannesburg. She says the lack of business support tailored to women’s specific challenges and needs, puts South Africa’s women entrepreneurs on the back foot in realising their potential to make greater contributions to economic growth and job creation. “The data highlights gender disparities in business scaling, with men owning larger businesses at a disproportionately higher rate than women. This could reflect various obstacles women might encounter in business expansion, including limited access to funding, networks, mentorship support and resources,” Prof Meyer said. As personal assistant to the CEO of FNB’s business division, Francinah Phalatsi has helped thousands of business women in their entrepreneurship journeys. Daily Maverick tapped into her expert input at a recent Money Cents EmpowerHER webinar. Tips of the trade Phalatsi says she sees more women taking up opportunities as entrepreneurs, and going into industries previously viewed as male-dominant. “The starting point is a solid business plan. The old adage is that failing to plan is planning to fail. Just as you would map a road trip or plan a project, a business plan is a roadmap for your business that helps you to stay focused and to attract potential investors,” she says. Key components of a good business plan include: the executive summary, which provides an overall view of the business; a market analysis, which gives you the opportunity to identify the gap in the market; a description of your company; and an outline of your organisation and management structure. Phalatsi says the market analysis also helps you figure out what your customers need, what solutions you want to provide, and who your competitors are.  “Your business plan should also detail your actual product or the service you are offering, and what is your key differentiator? What is your angle or hook that would make a customer choose you as a supplier over another company offering a similar product or service? Then you want to include any potential funding requests, as well as financial projections and planning for the future,” she says. While this may sound intimidating for anyone just starting out in a business venture, Phalatsi advises starting with a one-pager business plan, and then expanding each section as you go along. Importance of a network The GEM researchers recommended that women-orientated business networks should be developed and promoted by local governments, business incubators and private sector initiatives. “Establishing small, women entrepreneurial groups led by successful women business owners can promote confidence and increase business growth,” the report says. Phalatsi agrees, pointing out that building a network is not just about identifying mentors who may be in the same industry or own their own businesses, can hold your hand and lead you, but includes other entrepreneurs who are likely facing very similar challenges to yours. Common entrepreneurship mistakes Some of the more common mistakes by potential entrepreneurs Phalatsi sees include: Failing to separate business and personal finances: Phalatsi says while many young businesses might not have audited financial statements, they can use their business bank statements as a record of their trading activity. “This means you need a separate business account, and this helps with credit applications as well,” she says. Maintaining a good credit record: Here you want to manage your business cash flow to ensure that there are sufficient funds to cover your debit orders and operating costs. “Cash flow is a magic term. With an entrepreneurship or any other business, ensure that your business income mentioned is in a separate business account. Take the time to understand the different solutions around debt management, so you don’t find yourself in a pickle,” Phalatsi says. This means understanding the difference between debt counselling, debt review, and how it impacts your credit score. If you are a sole proprietor then the bank will look at your personal credit record to assess how you manage your finances. Apply for the appropriate type of funding: Phalatsi recommends some homework or research to understand the different types of funding available so you can identify what is most suitable for your business at its particular growth stage. For example, funding could include a simple business credit card, an overdraft facility, asset-based funding, commercial property finance or even franchise financing. Lack of governance or basic admin: An example of this would be poor contracts or record-keeping. “Having poorly structured agreements in place could lead to some significant issues down the line, from flimsy or light contracts with your suppliers to not having proper contracts from an HR perspective. It’s very important to clearly outline terms and conditions to avoid any future disputes,” she says. Clear understanding of your business finances: Phalatsi says these mistakes range from inaccurate assumptions about your operating costs to over-investing in resources or equipment. “Good budgeting will make underestimating your operating costs less likely and also reduces the chances of you needing to tap into your cash flow,” she advises. ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-09-24-support-your-women-owned-business-by-avoiding-these-key-entrepreneurship-mistakes/

Michael Bagraim | 24 September 2024 The Department of Labour was eventually reconfigured into the Department of Employment and Labour. This was after a long and tedious discussion that first started from a draft discussion paper in October 2019. Eventually, in May 2023, the government’s technical advisory centre was appointed to analyse it in order to understand its ability, implement the employment mandate optimally and help implement the restructuring of the Department of Employment and Labour. The reasoning behind this was the fact that unemployment had become one of the most destructive issues faced by the government. The advisory centre completed its analysis and presented it to the department in November 2023. Employment creation and its functions were to be moved to the top of the agenda. Many observations were made about service delivery, organisational structure, financial resources, ICT systems and governance. Much talking and many reports flowed like water under a bridge. Many flow charts and reports were generated. Much hot air and fanfare followed. Experts and academics worked hours to produce hundreds of pages of theory. Despite all this, the government seems to labour under the misconception that it must be at the centre of job creation. Throughout the world over the past 30 years, we have seen a move away from governments creating jobs towards governments creating the environment for the private sector to create jobs. Unfortunately, in 2023 and the beginning stages of 2024, the government still believes employment equity and negative onerous regulatory systems are needed. A large amount of money has been spent on entities known as the Public Employment Services and even the Department of Employment and Labour Administration. We still have a service delivery model built on the old style of government. The top-down approach doesn’t work and many thousands of South Africans can tell us how the Department of Employment and Labour has failed them. The labour policy and industrial relations programme of the department has to analyse and report on the labour market trends annually and research reports developed on the impact of labour legislation on the labour market. The programme is vital and needs to be given adequate resources to fulfil the mandate. My understanding is that Nedlac, which is the debating chamber for labour policy, has made various proposals about amendments to our labour laws. Hopefully, the proposals will see the way forward to follow up on the expanded mandate of employment policy. Over the past few years, President Cyril Ramaphosa has made a heartfelt plea to his ministers to analyse their laws and regulations to ascertain which ones stand in the way of job creation. The newly structured Department of Employment and Labour holds the final mandate to ensure that the government is creating an environment to assist the private sector to create jobs. We are all aware that the Unemployment Insurance Fund and the Compensation Fund are not performing and have issues relating to service delivery. The two entities are juristic creatures of the statute in that they have powers conferred upon them by the enabling legislation. The entities and their boards should be advising the minister of employment and labour on the amendments to legislation. Both of them are Schedule 3A entities and should be moved from the director-general of the department to a board. The funds should be capacitated into more traditional 3A public entities with appropriate governance and accountability. There is a requirement for legislative amendments to create a formal board as accounting authority, own fund staff complement and associated ICT and other infrastructure arrangements. We need to also recognise that Productivity SA should not be undertaking employment creation itself but should look at the structuring of its function to help the business community. It is recommended that Productivity SA downgrades many of its functions and restructures itself to be able to advise small businesses on how to not just survive but thrive. Likewise, Public Employment Services, which is an entity within the department, needs an urgent restructuring and redesign. The outputs are not in any way aligned with the needs of the economy. We don’t have enough inspectors or enough oversight over the business community, thereby failing the employees of South Africa. One of the most disastrous areas of the department is the computer systems and that, in particular, the SAP implementation has been extremely slow, expensive and not delivered. The department has spent almost R1 billion over the past few years on computerisation and has little value to show for it. At least now it is recognised and understood. This recognition means that we are on the road to stabilisation. Much of the work done by the department should be unbundling, moving from the public sector to the private sector. This will, however, mean staff reduction and retraining, but it is about time. ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://www.iol.co.za/capeargus/opinion/many-changes-are-needed-to-get-nation-working-f3bd801d-c822-4d0b-a2e9-aa3539bf96bb

Tamu Dutuma | 24 September 2024 Three decades into democracy SA continues to face runaway youth unemployment. About 27.3-million young people were unemployed as of the beginning of 2024, making the unemployment rate of youths aged 15-34 frighteningly high at 45.5% in the first quarter of 2024. This is a significant increase from the 32.9% recorded in the same period last year. This problem is prevalent throughout Africa, where the average incidence of youth unemployment is close to 12%. With the youth population expected to grow from 1.3-billion to 2.5-billion by 2050, the need for effective solutions is more urgent than ever for Africa to fully take advantage of the future benefits of being the world’s youngest and majority working-age population.  The Global Employment Trends for Youth 2024 report projects that 72.6-million young people will enter the labour market between 2023 and 2050. The report further highlights that nearly three in four working young adults in Sub-Saharan Africa are in insecure forms of work, with over 50% of these young workers employed in the agricultural sector, often earning less than the median wage and without job security.  As millions of young Africans enter the labour force a pivotal question arises: how can we sustainably generate meaningful employment for this emerging generation? While traditional job creation remains important, entrepreneurship offers a path to economic empowerment, especially in SA’s economy. We are far from achieving the average GDP growth rate of more than 5% necessary to sustainably create the job pipeline needed to meaningfully reduce unemployment. The spotlight has been placed on small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to help in addressing youth unemployment in SA. Entrepreneurs stand a better chance of practically reducing the overall unemployment rates.  According to McKinsey, SMEs constitute over 98% of SA businesses and employ 50%-60% of the workforce. Despite their crucial role in the economy they face significant hurdles, particularly in securing adequate and timely financing. A lack of formality, poor financial record-keeping and inadequate business plans often deter financial institutions from providing the necessary funding. This obstacle is especially difficult for fledgling and expanding companies.  What becomes clear in SA, where just 9.8% of employed youth are graduates, and 49.4% of young women are unemployed (significantly higher than the 31.9% rate for young men), is that ours is a multifaceted challenge and one that requires a strong and proactive state-business rendezvous of minds, to drive common interest in societal development. Inaction would be the greatest dereliction of duty in this regard and a missed opportunity to reshape the country’s future. We are a nation standing on the cusp of transformation — the time has come for businesses to see beyond philanthropy and engage in strategic partnerships that promise not just social good but substantial economic returns.  To find ways to support youth-owned businesses we need not only accelerate current efforts, but to look outside the box for new funding sources. Addressing this challenge requires a concerted effort from both the public and private sectors. Financial institutions, especially banks, are pivotal in providing traditional funding. They can also channel their resources to promote entrepreneurship by way of programmes such as the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation, which focuses on holistic funding and mentorship for entrepreneurs. Complementing these private sector efforts the government can look after regulations and infrastructure to foster a financially inclusive society. Government-backed loan programmes can also be instrumental in supporting emerging and growing enterprises.  To encourage youth-owned businesses, we should look at other funding opportunities rather than depending only on traditional ones. One such avenue is community-based savings groups, known as stokvels. With millions of participants and billions of rand managed annually, stokvels serve as vehicles for financial inclusion and economic development. In recent years we have witnessed the emergence of some successful businesses that are founded through stokvels, demonstrating their potential to drive entrepreneurship and economic growth. Crowdfunding platforms offer another exciting avenue and are changing the game, as evident in the case of Lula, an SA mobility-as-a-service company, which successfully raised capital through a crowdfunding platform. These alternative funding models are becoming essential tools for navigating SA’s evolving economic landscape. While microfinance options provide critical support for SMEs, true financial inclusion requires more than just access to credit or capital. It involves a transformative shift in mindset that empowers young entrepreneurs to thrive. To ensure their long-term success we must offer robust mentorship, incubation programmes and comprehensive business development support. Equally important is strategic coaching, which helps entrepreneurs develop resilient business strategies and adapt to the ever-changing market landscape. Platforms where entrepreneurs can showcase their propositions for exposure to a network of catalytic capital and value-add support play a critical role. Various models such as Mastercard-backed 54 Collective’s are making positive strides being the nexus between capital and potential.  We must also support young entrepreneurs by addressing essential business needs, such as reliable internet connectivity and access to office space. Networking is crucial, and both the public and private sectors should facilitate more impactful events to connect entrepreneurs with potential investors, customers and partners. We also need to provide our youth with training in specific skills relevant to entrepreneurship, such as financial management, digital marketing, customer service and negotiation.  Cultivating an entrepreneurial attitude from an early age is crucial for both solving for the future and developing an entrepreneurial mindset. This requires integrating financial literacy into the school curriculum and offering specialised courses at various education levels. Investing in our youth and adopting an holistic approach will ensure we help entrepreneurs fill in the gaps and set them on a path to success. In a country where youth with experience transition to employment four times more effectively than those without, the adage “teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime” underscores the importance of empowering young people with the skills and resources they need to become self-sufficient and create their own opportunities. The choices we make today will determine whether we harness the potential of our youth or risk leaving millions behind, and ultimately miss out on young people’s potential, which is the key to Africa’s sustainable development.  ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/opinion/2024-09-24-tamu-dutuma-unlocking-economic-opportunities-for-our-youth/

Rebecca Davis | 18 September 2024 Taking questions in the National Assembly on Wednesday, Labour Minister Nomakhosazana Meth said that employment equity policies need to be expedited — and another 20,000 labour inspectors would soon be hired to ensure compliance. Twenty-thousand interns will shortly be appointed as labour inspectors to ensure that businesses are complying with employment equity legislation, Labour Minister Nomakhosazana Meth told the National Assembly on Wednesday. She was responding to a question about the number of companies which are currently non-compliant with the laws, and acknowledged: “The private sector is found wanting”. Meth had been asked by ANC MP Sello Maeco whether her department had collected data on the state of transformation in the financial sector. The minister said white people still dominated the sector, with representation of 58.8% as compared with black representation at 18%. This showed, she said, the need to “expedite employment equity policies”. Later in the sitting, the minister was asked by Freedom Front Plus MP Heloïse Denner whether her department would “do away with race-based legislation”. Meth responded: “It will be difficult to redress the imbalances of the past merely by ignoring race… Unfortunately, my department is not intending to do away with those laws.” Julius Malema’s children take centre stage The labour minister was appearing before the National Assembly as one of the ministers from the economic cluster tasked with answering MPs’ questions. With Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana out of action, apparently due to ill health, his department was represented by his deputies, David Masondo (ANC) and Ashor Sarupen (DA). Sarupen became embroiled in a verbal bunfight with the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) after failing to answer a question about scholar transport and nutrition to the Fighters’ satisfaction. Questioned by EFF MP Veronica Mente about whether the National Treasury set standard rates for transporting and feeding schoolchildren, Sarupen responded that this did not fall within the responsibilities of the department — and was then accused by Mente of being out of touch with the realities of feeding schemes and scholar transport issues due to having his children in a private school. Sarupen clarified that he did not have children — but added: “I am aware that [EFF leader] Honourable [Julius] Malema has his kids in a private school and I’m sure they’re privately transported as well.” This prompted a furious outburst from Malema on the virtual platform, who accused Sarupen of “being a coward and fighting children”. Said Malema: “I went to a public school; I come from a family which has got nothing. I’m not like him from a privileged family.” The EFF leader also delivered a thinly veiled threat of violence, saying: “I can attend to you ideologically, theoretically, physically and otherwise, including outside… I am not responsible for your father giving birth to a brainless stupid minister.” Sarupen backed down, saying: “If I have in any way offended any member of the EFF, I withdraw.” State Capture-accused MK MP Lucky Montana subsequently offered to give Sarupen a lecture on the joys of fatherhood — a gesture rejected by the House chair, Werner Horn. Concerns raised about Ithala Bank Among the topics in focus on Wednesday afternoon was Ithala Bank: the KwaZulu-Natal financial institution founded by Mangosuthu Buthelezi which recently had its licence suspended for failing to meet the Financial Sector Conduct Authority’s financial soundness regulations. Masondo told MPs that while Ithala had no banking licence, another bank would stand in for it, with three banks in negotiations over this. “We are dealing with the problem together with Treasury officials,” said Masondo. When asked by ActionSA whether either the Treasury or the KwaZulu-Natal provincial government planned to inject capital into Ithala to prevent a repeat of the VBS Mutual Bank collapse, Masondo replied: “At this stage, there is no plan to recapitalise.” ActionSA released a statement after the National Assembly sitting expressing concern that the “worrying confirmation that [recapitalisation] is not going to happen now places the bank’s continued operation at serious risk”. Should whites be penalised for not opening their doors to census counters? One of the more unusual contributions to Wednesday’s Q&A came from State Capture-accused MK MP Siyabonga Gama, in reference to the ongoing controversy over the utility of the latest census results. Gama, addressing Deputy Minister in the Presidency Kenneth Morolong, pointed out that the highest undercount in the country was in Cape Town — which he claimed was because white Capetonians were not willing to open their doors to black and coloured census enumerators. Gama asked whether Morolong would consider, in such cases, invoking a clause of the Statistics Act making it an offence to obstruct the work of the census. Morolong responded that it was hoped that current amendments to the Act under consideration would “give it more teeth”. ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-09-18-bee-laws-are-here-to-stay-to-redress-the-imbalances-of-the-past-says-labour-minister/?refresh=cache

Nozizwe Vundla | 19 September 2024 Sanlam’s Enterprise and Supplier Development initiatives aim to empower entrepreneurs and SMEs The unsung heroes of SA's economy are our entrepreneurs, who drive growth and innovation through their small and medium enterprises (SMEs). These businesses comprise 98.5% of formal businesses in the country (Stats SA, 2022) and account for 34% of the GDP.  Despite its importance, SA's SME sector growth remains slow. Early-stage entrepreneurship rates are 3.5 times lower than the global average, according to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (2022). Furthermore, SMEs face significant challenges including limited access to funding, with 70% struggling to access credit (FinMark Trust, 2022). Skills development is another major barrier, with 45% of SMEs citing a lack of skills as a huge constraint (SEFA, 2022). To address these challenges, Sanlam is committed to championing SMEs through its Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD) initiatives. The goal of the Sanlam Foundation ESD programmes is to empower SMEs to drive economic growth, job creation and financial inclusion.  Entrepreneurship is crucial for unlocking SA’s demographic dividend potential and addressing socioeconomic disparities. The ESD programmes aim to create lasting economic sustainability, helping entrepreneurs thrive and contribute to the National Development Plan’s vision of amplifying SMEs’ impact on the economy. Purpose-driven programmes Sanlam Group ESD Programme: This programme seeks to provide support to high potential black-owned businesses to ensure equitable participation of black-owned SMEs in the supply chain of the Sanlam Group. The 2023 cohort saw a 33% growth in revenue in the below programme streams: Project Accelerator: Provides business development support to 14 SMEs, focusing on market access, funding, and skills.  Project Elevate: Targeting 24 financial planning firms, this programme provides specialist training within Sanlam’s BlueStar network of financial planners. Project Migrate: This programme provides business development support to 11 financial planning businesses. Black women-owned SME Programme:   This is the first-ever ESD programme at Sanlam that focuses solely on women SME owners. The programme is delivered virtually, and the 2024 cohort consists of 29 businesses across SA.  There are three programme streams, focusing on SMEs in different stages of the business life cycle: Masakhe is a six-month programme targeting early-stage businesses for entrepreneurs in the ideation, pre-revenue or start-up phase of development or establishment.  Siyakhula is an eight-month programme that is designed to help owners of established businesses identify growth opportunities and overcome current business challenges.  Asindize is a 12-month programme that aims to propel high growth potential businesses forward by connecting them to the right funding and market access opportunities. Sanlam Leruo Stokvel Programme is dedicated to formalising stokvels into viable businesses. With more than 800,000 stokvels in SA managing R50bn annually, this sector plays an important role in improving the national savings rate, now at a low 16% of the GDP. The initial impact has already been felt with five stokvels supported, translating to 152 members empowered to take control of their financial futures and contribute to the country's economic growth. SMEs — SA’s hope Supporting SMEs is vital for fostering financial inclusion and unlocking opportunities for all. This country’s greatest strength is its people, who have grit, humour and the indomitable drive to change their fortunes. Sanlam is determined to help them do this.  Download the 2024 Sanlam ESG Barometer report Now in its second edition, this annual report — researched by Krutham and published in partnership with Business Day — examines evolving ESG dynamics and how listed companies in SA and Kenya are enhancing environmental and social outcomes through their operations.  Click here to download it. ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://www.businesslive.co.za/companies/2024-09-19-native-the-unsung-heroes-driving-sas-economic-growth-and-innovation/

Denise van Huyssteen | 18 September 2024 Chronically high unemployment in our country, among the highest levels in the world; unemployed graduates of tertiary education, while employers struggle to fill skilled positions — what is wrong with this picture? We have a youthful, and growing, population, but they are not being sufficiently absorbed into the workforce — more than 50% of Eastern Cape youth (aged 25-34) are unemployed. This points to a deep gap between the skills available in the local economy and the skills actually required by business. The extent of SA’s skills mismatch was estimated in 2019 at 50% — in other words, half of prospective employees don’t have the skills needed in the job market.  The skills gap was starkly captured in the 2023 Global Talent Competitiveness Index, which measures countries’ capacity to develop, attract and retain relevant skills. SA ranked 68th overall out of 134 countries, but even more worryingly, came in 131st on the metric of employability of local technical and vocational skills, as rated by employers. The index highlights the country’s weak pool of technical and vocational skills (we rate 115th on “ease of finding skilled employees”) and notes that, to improve our overall competitiveness, SA “must make the education system more relevant to the economy” (currently ranked 100/134). This is deeply concerning for our economic growth prospects, as the availability of an appropriately skilled talent pool is a key factor for new investors.  Skills shortages hamper productivity and the ability of a business to take up expansion opportunities, and limit capacity for the innovation that drives global competitiveness. The wide skills gap is a key contributor to unacceptably high unemployment and sluggish economic growth, and in turn to our country’s high levels of poverty and inequality. Unpacking the detail in the Stats SA Quarterly Labour Force Surveys (QLFS) reveals not only the importance of education and training in general for improving individuals’ employment prospects, but also the importance of matching post-school qualifications and skills development to where the job opportunities are. Unemployment rates for graduates with degrees and other tertiary qualifications are relatively low, 10% and 20% respectively, but they are a small part of the population. Three-quarters of SA adults have only matric or lower levels of education, and at a matric level, it is concerning to note the low overall percentage pass rates and the extent to which students are substituting “real” mathematics for maths literacy. Businesses who are for example looking to hire operators on a production line, as an entry requirement seek “real” mathematics at a matric level. Pointing to the importance of technical skills in the job market, the “technician” occupational category was a key driver of gains in employment in the Q2: 2024 QLFS, with the number of people employed growing by 20% over the past year. Meanwhile, the categories of sales and services, professional, and clerical jobs recorded the greatest losses. The shortage of technical skills is also clear in the critical skills list published by the department of home affairs, which lists the occupational categories most in demand and is used to assess applications by foreign workers for work visas. The list is dominated by high-level technical skills, including engineers and engineering technologists across all disciplines, various types of ICT specialists from multimedia designers to programmers, analysts and developers, specialist technicians and mechanics, and scientists. In the Nelson Mandela Bay economy, anchored by manufacturing, advanced technical skills and qualifications are critically important as manufacturing becomes increasingly sophisticated, digital and technology-driven. The Bay is also home to two of the country’s biggest industrial automation and software specialists, Jendamark and S4 Integration, servicing global customers and requiring highly technical skills such as engineers and programmers. To realise our vision of the “Bay of Opportunity”, to grow our manufacturing sector and complete globally in the digitally-driven economy of the future, in turn driving investment and job creation, we must take action to close the skills gap, and focus particularly on growing our pool of technical skills. As a key intervention to put our Bay of Opportunity vision into action, the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber is establishing a skills development desk, with the support of the Eastern Cape Development Corporation and Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator. The first step, to be undertaken in the last quarter of this year into early 2025, is to undertake an audit of local industry’s current and future skills requirements and gaps, and then to develop and implement targeted interventions to bridge the divide.  The desk will work closely with local industry, education institutions, business organisations, technology incubators and agencies in skills development and youth development to develop collaborative solutions and strengthen each other’s efforts. We also foresee equipping unemployed youth and graduates so that they can be matched with opportunities in industry.  The desk will integrate with the chamber’s other action arms such as the trade and investment desk and the entrepreneurship desk, supporting skills development that will enable businesses to take advantage of market opportunities and grow localisation of manufacturing. The ties in with the work of our Local Economy Reinvention Think Tank that focuses on developing viable opportunities to take advantage of our manufacturing strengths in the green and digital future economy.  If we are to leverage our strengths and build a stronger, diversified economy that employs more people and builds greater prosperity for all, developing the skills that industry needs to grow is a critical component. Denise van Huyssteen is CEO of the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://www.heraldlive.co.za/opinion/2024-09-18-taking-action-to-close-the-skills-gap/

Staff Writer | 18 September 2024 THE Chemical Industries Education and Training Authority (Chieta) has welcomed the Auditor-General of South Africa’s findings of a clean audit and its achievement of 100 percent of its organisational goals. “Chieta is satisfied that our commitment to sustainable livelihoods through good governance and impactful delivery on skills development has been acknowledged by the country’s foremost authority on compliance,” said Chieta CEO Yershen Pillay. He said the clean audit in the 2023/2024 continues the same trajectory achieved in the previous financial year. It was a testament to the highly motivated team at Chieta, led by outstanding executives and guided by an engaged and committed board and its various committees. Pillay said the country’s chemical sector contributes massively to the economy and that Chieta is mindful of impacting skills development and job creation in South Africa. In the 2023/2024 financial year, 7,4742 individuals benefited from skills training programmes through Chieta. Furthermore, mindful of the country’s unemployment challenge, Pillay was pleased that Chieta initiatives created 7893 jobs. Pillay said Chieta’s impact on the country was further boosted by the establishment of SMART Skills Centres in rural areas in six provinces throughout the country. To date, these centres have attracted more than 12,000 individuals who use the hi-tech facilities to learn or apply for bursaries or jobs. “Our mission is to bridge the digital divide and provide equitable skills development opportunities. This centre will empower our youth with the digital skills essential for thriving in today’s job market,” Pillay said. Wezi Khoza, the chairperson of Chieta, remarked that Chieta’s achievement was pleasing because as a board they wanted the highest ethical standards and are satisfied to have achieved a clean audit for the second year. “In achieving the clean audit and 100 percent of targets met, we are pleased Chieta is doing its bit to ensure sustainable livelihoods through skills development, job creation and the SMART Skills centres, which ensure nobody is left behind in the Fourth Industrial Revolution,” Khoza concluded. ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://kznindustrialnews.co.za/chemical-industries-authority-welcomes-the-ags-findings/

Many organisations choose third party facilitators to distribute their Socio-Economic Development (SED) contributions, which B-BBEE Legislation allows for. However, organisations must note that, according to B-BBEE Legislation, the ultimate benefit needs to flow to the intended Black Beneficiaries.   The B-BBEE Commission’s SED Brochure , published in September 2019, addresses third-party facilitation of such contributions. Third party facilitators for SED contributions are usually Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs) or Public Benefit Organisations (PBOs), including Non-Profit Companies (NPCs).   NPOs, PBOs and NPCs are Specialised Enterprises for purposes of B-BBEE measurement. Their B-BBEE compliance is measured in terms of Statement 004 – otherwise known as a Specialised Scorecard.   Socio-Economic Development Services  are available to guide organisations in facilitating SED contributions in line with the requirements.

The Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition ( the dtic ), Mr Parks Tau has approved the Legal Sector Code in terms of section 9 (1) of the B-BBEE Act. This was stated in a Media Release published on 12 September 2024.   The Media Release further stated that this administration has committed itself to accelerate transformation guided by the preamble of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa which emphasises the need to correct the injustices of the past. This is captured in the statement of intent of the Government of National Unity (GNU).   The BEE Chamber is looking forward to reviewing the final published Gazette once released.   Technical Services  are available for Members who need assistance with understanding B-BBEE Sector Codes of Good Practice.