Nqobile Masimula | 6 September 2023 Durban — The BIO Africa Convention ended on a high note, on Wednesday, at the Durban International Convention Centre with an announcement of the winners of the Start-Up Stadium. This feature of the convention sees start-up businesses and SMMEs being able to participate in the Start-up Stadium, a dedicated space specifically designed to showcase the potential of emerging biotech start-ups. On Monday, the Minister of Higher Education and Science and Innovation, Blade Nzimande officially opened the 2023 BIO Africa Convention. Nzimande said the BIO Africa Convention is an important platform for enhancing biotechnology applications on the African continent. The biotechnology innovations that were featured pertains to the health, energy, agriculture and entrepreneurial sectors. The pitch-up session was held on Tuesday. The winner for the pre-revenue start-up is Dr Habtamu Abafoge who is the CEO of Simbona Africa Healthcare. Simbona won $10 000 (R192 166), and is a health-care company that designs and manufactures medical devices. Currently, Simbona is working on three different products: a baby warmer, a phototherapy machine, and an ultraviolet disinfection machine. The winner on the category of post-revenue start-up is Dr Genevieve Thompson who is the founder of Gene Vantage. She won $50 000. Gene Vantage is a specialist in the field of nucleic acid extractions, and is the only manufacturer of such products in Africa. The convention attracted industry experts, researchers and Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMMEs) in the biotechnology sector. The event, was held under the theme “Re-imagining Biotechnology Innovation for Africa‘s Development and Security”. Dr Janet Byaruhanga of Nepad, said the journey for the start -ups has just begun. “As we embark on this journey, we have witnessed the power of collaborations. It is your agility and innovations that will not only shape the industries but will shine the light of Africa,” she said. Biotech stakeholders from across the world shared ideas in parallel sessions, plenaries and an exhibition featuring about 100 exhibitors was there. The Department of Science and Innovation has been championing biotechnology, and the bio-economy in South Africa since 2001. Dr Nhlanhla Msomi who is the chairman of AfricaBio said the convention offered a unique opportunity to gain exposure, network with industry veterans and potential investors, and receive valuable feedback from experts in the field. “Thirty two countries were represented and 800 delegates showed up. To all the start-ups, you are the engines of our future growth. Next year we are convening on 23 August,” said Dr Msomi. He said the event also aims to foster collaboration and partnerships that can drive innovation and contribute to Africa’s sustainable development. WhatsApp your views on this story to 071 485 7995. ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://www.iol.co.za/dailynews/news/winners-announced-for-the-start-up-stadium-at-the-bio-africa-convention-67b1d71f-342f-4c0c-9a91-ef88f532e16b

Sibahle Malinga | 4 September 2023 South Africa’s transition from internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles to new energy vehicles (NEVs) will displace many automotive sector workers, with around 67% of local component exports expected to be lost in the process. This was the word from deputy finance minister Dr David Masondo last week, delivering a speech, titled: “Growing the SA automotive component manufacturing sector: A state perspective”, at the National Association of Automotive Component and Allied Manufacturers (NAACAM) 2023 show, in Tshwane. Discussing the economic significance of the automotive sector, particularly local component manufacturing, he highlighted government’s role in providing more support to the industry, particularly components manufacturing in the context of NEVs. The component sector, as part of the wider automotive sector, is a mainstay of SA’s industrial economy – so far contributing 4.9% to SA’s gross domestic product this year, he noted. According to Masondo, last year, total automotive vehicle and component exports from SA were over R227 billion, and this number is expected to be significantly affected by the country’s transition to NEVs. “As we look towards the future, embracing electric vehicles is not just a choice. It is imperative for the sustainability of our planet and the prosperity of our nation,” he explained. “Like every transition, the emergence of new energy vehicles brings with it massive potential disruptions. With that disruption, [there will be] a host of risks and even more opportunities to channel the disruption into new industries, skills and jobs. “The technical change in the labour process driven by artificial intelligence requires fewer blue-collar workers. Around 67% of SA component exports will be lost in the transition from ICE vehicles to NEVs. This simply means the transition will entail a fundamental restructuring of the labour market.” A NEV utilises alternative energy sources instead of relying solely on traditional fossil fuels. Last year, SA exported 360 000 vehicle units – 33.7% manufactured in Gauteng, 53.5% in the Eastern Cape and 12.8% in KwaZulu-Natal. According to Masondo, the growth of SA’s automotive component manufacturing sector takes place in the context of systemic transformations driven by decarbonisation and artificial intelligence. The automotive sector will be, and is, deeply affected by these systemic changes. “New employment opportunities will have to be created for those who will inevitably lose out. Reinvestment and support [will be needed for] reskilling and upskilling of the workforce to ensure the right skills are available for the design, engineering and manufacturing of electric vehicles and related components and systems.” He emphasised the importance of fiscal assistance, supporting local original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and adequate policies to drive the development of SA’s NEV industry and create a conducive environment for the transition to electrification. While many jobs will be displaced, the emergence of NEVs will also result in new jobs created, added Masondo. According to a report by the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa, NEV sales by 14 industry brands in the country increased by 18.8%, from 1 401 units in the first quarter of 2022, to 1 665 units in the first quarter of 2023. While SA is ahead of its African counterparts, it lags significantly behind on the global front. The two-day NAACAM Show 2023 was hosted in partnership with the Tshwane Economic Development Agency. It was attended by over 1 300 guests and attracted 130 exhibitors, across established manufacturers and service providers in the automotive components sector, and emerging SMMEs, according to organisers. A R4.8 billion investment pledge was announced by NAACAM CEO Renai Moothilal on the final day of the event. The pledges were made by 16 of the show exhibitors, consisting of companies specialising in SA’s e-mobility industry, including Atlantis Foundries, Shatterprufe, Ebor Automotive Systems, Auto Industrial Group, Formex Industries Acoustex and CRH Africa Automotive. “These pledges reflect the importance of SA’s e-mobility sector to the local economy and they were all productive investment-related. This includes plant upgrades and new technology to support OEM customer requirements,” said Moothilal. Trade, industry and competition minister Ebrahim Patel also spoke at the event and welcomed the pledges made. The investments will support more than 10 000 jobs, he noted. “I am particularly pleased to be part of this major announcement today, because investment is the lifeblood of every economy. It contributes to expanding the economy, creating jobs and providing taxes that government can use to build hospitals, schools, universities and many other positive things that contribute to improving the lives of our people. This is a strong vote of confidence in the South African economy by the automotive components makers.” Patel added that government needed to respond to the private sector’s appetite to invest in the South African economy by creating a conducive environment, where companies are confident in putting money into building more factories. “I was also pleased to learn that two of the companies that made pledges are black industrialist-owned firms that have been brought in as a result of the Automotive Industry Master Plan and the Automotive Industry Transformation Fund (AITF).” The AITF was established as a collective equity equivalent investment programme as defined in the broad-based black economic empowerment codes between seven multinational automotive manufacturers in South Africa. It aims to facilitate transformation across the sector’s value chain through the provision of access to developmental funding, the market and capacity development for qualifying black-owned entities. ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://www.itweb.co.za/content/kLgB1Mez9Pxq59N4

SA News | 6 September 2023 Fifty-nine youth-owned businesses are set to benefit from the R90 million KwaZulu-Natal Youth Empowerment Fund. Announcing the youth businesses approved for funding during a ceremony held in Durban on Tuesday, KwaZulu-Natal Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube said the event marks an important milestone in government’s quest to push back the frontiers of the stubbornly high rate of youth unemployment in the province. She said moment marks the fulfilment of a pledge made during the State of the Province Address earlier this year, which was delivered under the theme, ‘Taking Decisive Action in the time of Renewal and Hope as we Rebuild a Better, Prosperous, and Resilient KwaZulu-Natal’. The Youth Fund was established by the Office of the Premier in 2018 as part of government’s concerted efforts to crank up youth development and empowerment in the province. According to the fund structure, 90% of the fund received by each beneficiary is channelled to buy equipment in order to lower their cost of business, while 10% is for working capital. Dube-Ncube said during the first phase, R60 million was disbursed to 51 youth-owned businesses. In the current phase, which was opened in July 2021, a total of 4 016 applications were received for funding. “Of those applications, 2 854 were disqualified for various compliance and other reasons while 1 162 were processed by the KwaZulu-Natal Growth Fund, an entity of government that is responsible for the disbursement process and management of the Youth Fund. “A further rigorous evaluation process was undertaken, and 352 applications were shortlisted for the due diligence stage. Ultimately, site visits were conducted, which resulted in the 59 [businesses] that are today the recipients of the funding. The funding ranges from R200 000 to R2 million,” Dube-Ncube explained. The Premier said youth-owned businesses that benefited from the current window operate in various strategic sectors, including water security, transport and logistics, farming technology, the digital economy, automotive and maritime industries. “We could not have asked for a better present to mark the close of Women’s Month, as evidenced by the fact that 42% of the approved applicants are women. This is a significant improvement, if we consider that only 15% women applicants had benefitted previously. “Our goal, moving forward, is to ensure at least a 50-50 access between men-owned and women-owned businesses,” the Premier said. The Premier said they are encouraged by the fact that there is adequate geographic spread in terms of the distribution of beneficiaries as they come from across all the districts in the province. She said the provincial government is decisively addressing the divide between urban and rural, the poor and affluent. They believe that all people must benefit equally from government’s interventions. The Premier noted that the fund also approved businesses that are owned and managed by unemployed graduates and youths from professional sectors, including medical, engineering and accounting disciplines. The Premier also announced that the new window (for R100 million funding) will be opened soon. ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/kzn-youth-owned-businesses-benefit-r90m-fund

Nelly Mohale and Emma Montocchio | 5 September 2023 YES has been a success and has proven that innovative legislation and coordination between the public and private sectors can create jobs. We just need to ensure that we create jobs the economy needs. The YES B-BBEE incentive introduced by the Department of Trade, Industry and Industry is arguably one of the most successful incentives introduced in the past 15 to 20 years. As the incentive gains traction, it is worth interrogating two elements: absorption and alignment with the national minimum wage. For those not familiar with the incentive, it was gazetted in 2018 and effectively allows organisations to move up one or two levels on their B-BBEE scorecard through the creation of a certain number of youth jobs. Due to a high degree of flexibility in implementation, undemanding job creation targets and low absorption requirements, the incentive has seen nearly 2,000 businesses sign up. Many have returned for multiple years of participation. The average YES implementation – including for multinationals – would require the creation of fewer than 15 jobs earning the national minimum wage, and only one of these youths would need to achieve permanent employment at the end of the 12 months. In essence, it is an R825,000 investment for a full level on your B-BBEE scorecard. Quality vs quantity of jobs When YES was launched in the market, it was positioned as a tool to ultimately unlock large-scale employment. In reality, it is constrained by private sector funding and B-BBEE legislation driving its targets – this has meant that the incentive typically creates between 25,000 and 30,000 jobs per year. While large-scale employment is critical for South Africa, a focus on quality jobs is equally important. Strategic sectors such as technology, tourism, healthcare, renewable energy, water and infrastructure are all crying out for capacity. One of the great aspects of YES is that you don’t need to employ the youth inside your organisation to “make up the numbers”, but can be strategic about where you deploy them. A look at the clients we are engaging with suggests that many are starting to be quite innovative around integrating youth into their value chains, enterprise and supplier development initiatives or other strategic industries. We believe organisations are viewing YES as less transactional and more strategic – a trend we hope continues. The national minimum wage debate For anybody who has had to do interviews and recruitment for YES programmes, it is heartbreaking to see young people with degrees – including B.Comms, LLBs, Engineering and Medical – applying for work opportunities to earn R4,407 per month. While the YES 12-month work experience is critical to providing access to the market and helping youth break the so-called “experience trap”, we are not going to unlock quality talent by paying the national minimum wage. First, from a mental health perspective, recent research has shown that 73% of working South Africans are earning less than R6,000 per month. When that statistic is viewed alongside research out of Unicef showing 65-73% of South Africans are struggling with mental health issues that cost the South African economy R100bn per year, we started to appreciate the steep change that is required to empower youth. Second, from a logistics level, a major challenge we face in South Africa is social mobility. A middle-class university graduate with access to a car, a laptop and data will find it far easier to access work opportunities than a youth who must navigate multiple taxis to get to and from work and is constantly weighing up data and transport costs while trying to gain work experience. Third, young people will, as a result of the experience gained through YES programmes, be able to move to better-paying positions – often before their 12-month contract expires. As a cost consideration, a youth who drops off before the eight-month mark needs to be replaced by another with a new 12-month fixed-term contract. This leaves you with a replacement cost of R50,000 if the youth is struggling to get to and from work. The Employment Tax Incentive A topic that has been bubbling under for those implementing YES programmes is the issue around the Employment Tax Incentive (ETI). The ETI is a South African Revenue Service (Sars) incentive aimed at encouraging youth employment by offering a payroll recovery for those under the age of 29 and under R6,500 per month. It works on a sliding scale and, in practical terms, means that a youth employed on a YES programme at the national minimum wage effectively only pays R3,407, having received a rebate of R1,000 per month. Unfortunately, the ETI has become subject to significant industry abuse and Sars has aggressively clamped down on claims in this space. Based on our industry feedback, there are hundreds of millions of rands of ETI claims being withheld by Sars. Due to its flexibility, YES allows organisations to fund youth who don’t sit on their payroll, and this has created a grey area for Sars and ETI claims. Sars, in essence, is arguing that despite funding youth jobs, the youth are not on your payroll so would not be eligible for ETI. At the same time, they are arguing that the employers of record for the youth are not the creators of jobs as they receive specific funding for these positions and similarly are not entitled to ETI. The other concern is that the national minimum wage is rising faster than the ETI brackets. This issue is creating a lot of frustration in the industry and for every R100m of withheld ETI, this holds back the creation of at least 1,800 jobs per year. Ultimately, this issue needs to be addressed to unlock further jobs. YES has been a success and has proven that innovative legislation and coordination between the public and private sectors can create jobs. We just need to ensure that we create jobs the economy needs. And while we are at it, review the real cost of adhering to paying only the national minimum wage in a short-sighted attempt to keep overheads low. ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2023-09-05-just-say-yes-job-creation-incentive-should-be-aligned-with-the-national-minimum-wage/

Lindsay Dentlinger | 05 September Under the new bill, supply chain management will become the function of a new public procurement office housed within the Treasury. CAPE TOWN - Nine years since Cabinet first approved an overhaul of government’s procurement system, a new bill that will centralise tender processes across all spheres of government is finally under discussion in Parliament. But concerns were raised on Tuesday by opposition parties whether the new Public Procurement Bill will advance transformation and the capacity of the state. Under the new bill, supply chain management will become the function of a new public procurement office housed within the Treasury. The Treasury says a single procurement system for the state will level the playing field and will also address many of the ethical concerns raised by the Zondo Commission of Inquiry into State Capture. Under the new Public Procurement Bill, several existing preferential procurement laws will fall away in favour of new regulations to be decided by the finance minister. But Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) MP Mzwanele Manyi believes the bill’s intentions are misguided. "What we should be discussing is how the state aims to build capacity within itself to provide the services it’s preparing to outsource to other people right now." The Democratic Alliance (DA)'s Dion George is concerned about corruption within the central procurement office. "This body is going to be very powerful and very big and very susceptible. How does that get held to account?" Treasury says it believes these aspects have been fairly addressed in the bill, which will now be subjected to public scrutiny. ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://ewn.co.za/2023/09/05/opposition-parties-raise-concerns-over-public-procurement-bill

Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa | 5 September 2023 New NBI Fund is aimed at addressing the funding challenges many small businesses face. The Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa (IDC) is excited to introduce its ground-breaking initiative that embodies the spirit of growth and innovation – the IDC credit facility to non-bank intermediaries. This initiative marks a significant step forward in our mission to empower and elevate small, medium, and micro-sized enterprises (SMMEs) and those who provide them with financial support. Non-bank intermediaries (NBIs) are financial institutions that do not have a full banking licence and cannot accept deposits from the public. NBIs facilitate alternative financial services, such as investment (both collective and individual), risk pooling, financial consulting, brokering, money transmission, and check cashing and are a source of credit along with licensed banks and development finance institutions. SMMEs are usually diverse businesses operating in the service, trade, agri-business, and manufacturing sectors. SMMEs play an essential role in contributing to South Africa’s economic development. In 2021, SMMEs accounted for 24% of income and 58% of employment in the manufacturing industry, according to data from Statistics SA. However, SMMEs face various challenges, such as: Access to finance; Affordable and suitable finance; Collateral; Access to markets; Skills, experience, and track record; Climate/environmental models for risk management; Access to value chains and market-related prices for production inputs; and Access to non-financial support. The IDC aims to extend credit lines to NBIs to expand the funding reach to black-owned SMMEs, in part to address the funding challenges they face, thereby contributing to job creation and supporting economic development in South Africa. The IDC is making a R3 billion credit facility available to eligible NBIs. To qualify for this fund, non-bank intermediaries are eligible if they are 100% Black-owned with a three-plus-year track record or those with an eight-plus-year track record and a minimum 25% Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment certification. Let us usher in a new era of financial empowerment through the IDC’s NBI Fund. ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://www.moneyweb.co.za/in-depth/idc/idc-unveils-new-fund-to-empower-and-elevate-smmes/

SA News | 5 September 2023 To usher in Tourism Month and the upcoming Summer Campaign, Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille has welcomed Cabinet’s concurrence of ‘The Green Paper on the Development and Promotion of Tourism in South Africa’ to be published for public comment. “The Green Paper comes at a particularly exciting time for tourism globally and in South Africa. Tourism is a growth sector and generator of jobs, and tourist destinations need to position themselves to take advantage of this sector’s recovery growth trajectory,” De Lille said. The tourism sector has continued to grow for the past decade, earning the reputation of being one of the most significant and fastest-growing sectors before COVID-19. In 2019, it contributed 3.7% to the local GDP and created 780 096 direct South African jobs. Despite numerous advances, the tourism sector lags relative to its potential. To respond to this challenge and to accelerate inclusive tourism growth, the Department of Tourism embarked on a process of reviewing the 1996 Tourism White Paper. The policy review process has yielded the Green Paper on the Development and Promotion of Tourism in South Africa. The Green Paper seeks to sustainably grow a more inclusive tourism sector that creates mass employment, reacts to innovations and adapts to future crises. “The Green Paper seeks to facilitate growth and transformation of the tourism sector by creating an enabling regulatory environment for the present and future, especially with regards to technological developments. “The Green Paper further seeks to increase the tourism sector’s contribution to the broader economy and drive employment and entrepreneurship, whilst enabling the sector to adapt to future crises. “I invite the public to study The Green Paper on the Development and Promotion of Tourism in South Africa and provide us with substantive comments,” the Minister said. The vision of the Green Paper is to sustainably and competitively grow the South African economy through an inclusive, inspiring, visitor-oriented tourism sector that consistently builds partnerships to strengthen the impact of the sector nationally, regionally and globally. Its aim is also to address barriers to tourism growth and to respond to the social cohesion imperatives of the country. Key elements include but are not limited to: • Implementation of a research-based tourism safety response programme in partnership with relevant agencies. • Develop and regularly review tourism crisis management framework to enable a response to crises. • Implementation of Tourism BBBEE Codes & strengthening mechanism for access to finance. • Facilitation of ease of access to the destination, especially as it relates to immigration and transport. • Recommitting the sector to the responsible tourism agenda. • Regulation of short-term rental accommodation to ensure policy certainty. To enable the sector to reach its potential, The Green Paper focuses on four policy thematic areas with a specific focus under each. The four thematic areas are: - Evolving former policy areas: Tourism governance, safety and security management and transformation. - Emerging policy issues: Embracing technology, crisis management, accessing the destination, quality visitor services, skills supply and employment and tourist services. - Policy issues for targeted growth: Prioritising rural and peri-urban tourism, enhancing domestic tourism for destination resilience and destination marketing and branding. - Sustainable growth model: Responsible tourism, knowledge management research and insights, tourism diplomacy, and tourism trade and investment. The significance of tourism within the South African economy is widely recognised. The New Growth Path, the National Development Plan (NDP) and several State of the Nation Addresses identify the tourism sector among the core contributors to the country's medium to long-term national economic goals. The 1996 Tourism White Paper predates many of these government frameworks, particularly the NDP, thus necessitating alignment. The country's Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan (ERRP) identifies tourism recovery as one of the priority interventions to drive the reconstruction and recovery of the economy. The Tourism Sector's Recovery Plan also identifies the need to review the policy framework to support the sector's growth. The gazette for public comment was published on Friday 1 September and is available at: www.gpwonline.co.za/Documents/Government/49223%201-9%20Tourism.pdf. Any person who wishes to submit written inputs in connection with the Green Paper is invited to do so within 60 days from the date of the gazette. Submissions should be: a) Mailed to the Department of Tourism, for attention: Mr Senzo Nkala, Private Bag x424, Pretoria, 0001 b) Delivered by hand to the Tourism House, 17 Trevenna Street, Sunnyside, Pretoria, 0001 c) Emailed to TourismGreenPaper@tourism.gov.za. The Green Paper is also available on the Department’s website at www.tourism.gov.za. ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/de-lille-invites-comments-tourism-green-paper

Bongani Mdakane | 4 September 2023 SPAR, which is one of the big five retailers in the country, alongside Shoprite, Pick n Pay, Woolworths and Walmart-owned Cambridge Foods, has agreed to end its exclusive leases by the end of December 2026 – thus opening opportunities, and ending a stranglehold on small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs). This after the SPAR group reached a consent agreement with the Competition Commission on the cessation of long-term exclusive leases this week. The mediation process was conducted under the guidance of Judge Dennis Davis – the chairperson of the Companies Tribunal. The agreement is seen as a victory, giving SMMEs and previously disadvantaged business owners who operate in informal retail markets an opportunity to spread and expand their retail wings. The agreement is also in response to the recommendations made by the Grocery Retail Market Inquiry (GRMI) and follows a similar consent agreements reached with Shoprite and Pick n Pay covering all national chains that had exclusive lease agreements in place, collectively. Commission spokesperson Siya Makunga said: “The exclusive lease agreements of Shoprite, Pick n Pay and SPAR covered close to 2 000 shopping malls and convenience centres nationally, and excluded any specialist or general grocery supermarkets from competing for consumers in those malls. “As more than 50% of grocery shopping journeys are to malls and convenience centres, collectively these leases prevented competition for most consumer purchases.” Makunga also stated that the leases also contributed significantly to the exclusion of SMMEs and historically disadvantaged persons-owned (HDPs) businesses in the grocery sector, where they are under-represented relative to other countries. “The end of exclusive leases opens opportunities for SMMEs and HDPs in thousands of shopping malls and convenience centres nationally. One of the key issues identified was the impact of long-term exclusive lease agreements on local competition.” GRMI, on its final report published in December 2019, concluded that long-term exclusive lease agreements limit consumer choice within shopping centres, sustain concentration levels, pose particular barriers to participation by SMMEs and HDPs, while hindering dynamism and innovation in the grocery retail sector. In terms of addressing these concerns, the commission recommended that national supermarket chains should voluntarily comply with specific measures to phase out exclusive leases within five years. “As a result of ongoing discussions between the commission and the SPAR group, a consent agreement has been reached that commits the SPAR group to cease enforcing exclusivity provisions for company-owned stores with immediate effect and will not include such provisions in future lease agreements. “In respect of SPAR group head leases for stores owned by Spar retail members, the SPAR group will cease enforcing exclusivity against SMMEs, HDP specialist stores and HDP supermarkets with immediate effect,” said Makunga. The agreement will exclude franchisees of national chains in the first year but will cover them thereafter. “The SPAR group will not include exclusivity provisions in any new head leases and will cease to enforce exclusivity against all competitors by December 2026. The SPAR Group will also actively seek to persuade SPAR retail members to adhere to the agreement’s provisions within 12 months from the date of signature,” he said. “This final consent agreement concludes the work of the commission in opening the grocery retail sector to competition and participation by all.” ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://sundayworld.co.za/news/business/spar-gives-smmes-a-boost-by-ending-exclusive-leases/

Arrie Rautenbach | 4 September 2023 Absa employees across the continent celebrated the launch of the Group’s landmark Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) transaction on 1 September 2023, underscoring the Group’s commitment to transformation, while enabling employees and communities to participate in the value generated by the Group. The transaction, one of the largest B-BBEE transactions in recent times, will also include beneficiaries of the Corporate Social Investment (CSI) Trust, making a meaningful difference in the lives of thousands of people who might not have access to education and employment opportunities. While black employees in South Africa, as defined in South Africa’s B-BBEE codes, will be the primary beneficiaries, the transaction recognises the contribution by all employees across the Group. Absa employees in South Africa will be awarded free shares while Absa employees in the 14 other countries in which the Group operates will be able to participate in a cash-equivalent programme, subject to local approvals. “The transaction is the next big step in our journey to building a diverse and inclusive organisation and it demonstrates our commitment to being an active force for good in everything we do,” said Absa Group CEO Arrie Rautenbach, who addressed employees participating in celebration events across the continent today. The transaction involves 7% of Absa Group’s total shareholding, valued at approximately R11.2 billion. All of Absa’s approximately 26 000 eligible employees in South Africa will be awarded shares, vesting in five years. Black employees will receive an additional 20% allocation. A CSI Trust will manage funds flowing from the transaction to benefit black communities in South Africa. “As a leadership team, we are delighted to deliver the transaction particularly to employees who will be able to participate in the value that they help generate every day,” said Rautenbach. ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://www.politicsweb.co.za/politics/employees-celebrate-launch-of-landmark-bbbee-trans

SA News | 4 September 2023 Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister, Dr Blade Nzimande, has commended the Chemical Industries Education and Training Authority (CHIETA) on the successful opening of the Babanango SMART Skills Centre, which will provide tech-enabled learning programmes. Nzimande unveiled the third and largest CHIETA SMART Skills Centre last week. It forms part of CHIETA’s efforts to bridge the digital skills divide and accelerate the development of basic digital skills in rural communities. The centre will provide tech-enabled learning programmes, including virtual and augmented reality, robotics and the Internet of Things, among others. Speaking at the launch, Nzimande said the Babanango area was specifically identified for the establishment of the SMART Skills Centre because it is in a deeply rural area of KwaZulu-Natal, without any internet connectivity. Nzimande said the centre will benefit the local community, including learners, students, job seekers and businesspeople. It will also provide youth with digital skills that will help to meet the demands of industries, which rely on technology to grow their enterprises. “The centre will advance skills development for the unemployed youth by offering programmes based on various technologies, including Virtual Reality (VR), blockchain, artificial intelligence (AI), software development, data science and mobile repairs. “Through this centre, our unemployed youth will have access to various online learning platforms to start up successful and scalable data-driven commercial businesses that will provide technological solutions. This centre we also help us bridge the digital skills divide between urban and rural communities,” Nzimande said. The SMART Skills Centre is part of government’s bigger plans to revolutionise digital skills development in South Africa. The skills centres will further cater for Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) development, as they play a crucial role in the growth of the economy. SMMEs make up 34% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which was valued at $358 billion in 2019. Nzimande said through the National Development Plan (NDP), government has recognised the importance of SMMEs for job creation, innovation and sustainability of the country. “One of the goals outlined in the NDP was for 90% of new jobs to be created through SMMEs by 2030. This is against the backdrop that our country continues to struggle with the burgeoning problem of unemployment, particularly in its highly youthful population. “I am more than certain that this project will certainly give our youth and the community at large the opportunity to get or create employment because digital skills are required in most occupations in the 21st century. I am also hoping that this centre will be a catalyst to attract other developmental projects and programmes,” Nzimande said. The Minister announced that due to the successful implementation of CHIETA SMART Skills Centre, the department has taken a decision to expand this project in all nine provinces of the country. CHIETA CEO, Yershen Pillay, commended the partners who were involved in this initiative, including the department, Mthashana Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) college and Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA), among others. Pillay noted that this is one of the biggest smart skills centres in the country, which has, among others, cell phone repair skills, and will also provide free data to the community of Babanango. ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/largest-chieta-smart-skills-centre-opens-rural-kzn

Over time, one Beneficiary can be an Enterprise Development and Supplier Development Beneficiary. However, they can only be either an Enterprise Development or Supplier Development at a particular time. Put another way, they may over time represent both elements, but it must be at different time frames, typically an Enterprise Development Beneficiary is elevated to that of the Supplier Development one. A simple determination is based on role they play in the supply chain. Clause 3.8 under Statement 400 of the Amended General B-BBEE Codes of Good Practice states: 3.8 A Supplier Development Beneficiary is a part of the Measured Entity’s supply chain, whereas an Enterprise Development Beneficiary is not. Enterprise & Supplier Development Services are available for Members to understand Beneficiary requirements.

An organisation may not claim the salary for an employee Bursar as part of its Bursary Programme. However, as per 2.1.1.2 of the Skills Development Scorecard under Statement 300 of the Amended General B-BBEE Codes of Good Practice, an organisation may claim a stipend for an unemployed Bursar. 2.1.1.2 refers: “Skills Development Expenditure on bursaries for ‘Black’ Students at Higher Education Institutions”. Based on prior behaviour, this principle results in organisations giving preference to unemployed Bursaries through which they can claim a higher overall cost. Members need to consider the return on investment as well as the B-BBEE points when developing their Bursary strategy and assess where Bursaries may fall into their Employee Value Proposition (EVP) and their Training Plan before being driven blindly by the B-BBEE points in isolation. Skills Development Services are available for assistance with Bursary Strategies for Members.