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Mat Cuthbert MP – DA Head of Policy Yesterday, the DA’s Economic Inclusion for All Bill was officially introduced in Parliament. We will now request a first reading debate on this seminal new legislation in the National Assembly. This marks the next step in our fight to replace the ANC’s failed black economic empowerment (BEE) policy, which targets poverty, unlocks opportunity, and attracts investment. The failure of BEE is evident, as 44 million South Africans are trapped in poverty, and 12 million remain stranded in unemployment queues. However, the country’s R1.2 trillion public procurement continues to serve as a feeding trough for cadres, while infrastructure decays, services go undelivered, and economic growth stalls. In contrast, the DA aims to reform empowerment policy by simplifying the preference points system based on companies’ measurable contributions towards investment in communities. Our empowerment alternative concentrates on three critical components: (1) Value for Money, (2) Economic Inclusion, and (3) Disqualification Criteria. Genuine empowerment begins with value for money. The state must purchase goods and services from companies that are cost-effective, technically competent, reliable, and fully compliant with the law. For years, BEE has driven up prices, reduced competition, and rewarded political loyalty rather than capability. Value for money must be complemented by economic inclusion. This can be achieved by awarding companies that do business with the state preferential points if they reinvest in our country’s many impoverished communities through job creation, skills development, infrastructure investment, and integrating small businesses into their value chain. Most importantly, we need to exclude cadres who are guilty of corruption, fraud, and misrepresentation. The DA remains committed to an empowerment policy that eliminates exclusion, boosts economic growth, and creates jobs. The Economic Inclusion for All Bill is an important first step towards achieving these goals. ‘Disclaimer - The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://www.da.org.za/2026/03/da-requests-debate-on-economic-inclusion-for-all-bill

Babalo Ndenze | 12 March 2026 DIRCO Minister Ronald Lamola defended the ANC’s flagship policy after Bozell this week criticised the legislation and demanded that South Africa scrap the equity law. Minister of International Relations Ronald Lamola said Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) is not “reverse racism” as insinuated by United States (US) ambassador Brent Bozell. Lamola defended the African National Congress (ANC)’s flagship policy after Bozell criticised the legislation and demanded that South Africa scrap the equity law. He was addressing a media briefing on Wednesday on geopolitical developments like the war in Iran and the country’s relations with the US. Lamola on Wednesday responded to Bozell’s demands to the South African government, which included the scrapping of BEE. Bozell also does not want South Africa to implement its expropriation of land legislation. But Lamola said there’s nothing wrong with BEE, one of the country’s redress policies, and it won't be done away with. “We reiterate that BEE is not reverse racism as regrettably insinuated by the ambassador. It is a fundamental instrument designed to address the structural imbalances of South Africa’s unique history.” ‘Disclaimer - The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://www.ewn.co.za/2026/03/12/lamola-denounces-bozell-s-insinuation-that-bee-is-reverse-racism

The most critical element of an Enterprise Development Loan is that it is a loan and not a grant disguised as one. An organisation must record a loan in their Financial Statements to confirm its origin. The following is a non-exhaustive list of evidence necessary for a B-BBEE Rating Agency at the time of a B-BBEE Verification: Signed Loan Agreement including the type of loan and the terms of repayment; Proof of the valid B-BBEE status of the Beneficiary; Evidence that an organisation paid the loan in full as per the agreement; Presentation of the loan account, ledger or a journal that determines the outstanding amount; Acknowledgement from the Beneficiary that the loan was received as per the agreement; and Needs Analysis as per the Draft Amendments. As the necessary evidence slightly differs between B-BBEE Rating Agencies, an organisation should confirm before their B-BBEE Verification what their evidence requirements are. Enterprise & Supplier Development Services are available to assist Members with the creation & implementation of Enterprise & Supplier Development initiatives.

Staff Writer | 10 March 2026 United States Ambassador to South Africa, Leo Brent Bozell III, says Washington is running out of patience with Pretoria’s lack of action on what he called a ‘list of five asks’ delivered to Pretoria a year ago. These ‘asks’ were first reported in June 2025 , based on feedback from a delegation of Afrikaner leaders who met with senior White House officials at the time. While the South African government acknowledged “political” and “ideological” differences that had emerged in official trade negotiations with the United States, it never acknowledged a list of ‘asks’. However, Bozell has now confirmed that these were official requests given to Pretoria, with little done since to meet them. Speaking at the Biznews Conference in Hermanus, Bozell said that he has been in the country in his official capacity for three-and-a-half weeks and has already learned of the complexity of “the situation” here. However, he said he has also learned that the South African government is not internally aligned on how it wants to deal with international partners and support businesses. “You learn that there are those in the government who want to see the business community succeed,” he said. “There are also those in the government who, frankly, don’t want to see it succeed.” Bozell said the United States’ position has been very firm, and that he wasn’t going to tiptoe around issues the US views as critical to continued relations with South Africa. “We put together five asks. We put them forward to the South African government. We’ve been waiting for almost a year for a response, and as I’ve made clear in meetings that I’ve had, we’re running out of patience,” he said. “We believe that it becomes a statement by the South African government when it doesn’t want to respond to simple questions that we have.” The five “asks” reflect the same demands put forward last year, with the added demand for critical minerals cooperation: Protecting rural communities from violence, referring to the globally publicised farm attacks. In 2025, the US wanted this to become a priority crime focus. Condemning rhetoric that incites hatred and glorifies violence, referring to the infamous “kill the boer” chant. The US wants the government to publicly condemn this. Ensuring appropriation policies include fair and clear compensation standards, referring to the government’s move to normalise “nil” compensation in new expropriation laws. Ending mandatory surrender of ownership or control of corporate decision-making as a cost of one’s own business, referring to South Africa’s strict BEE policies . Expanding digital and critical minerals cooperation, referring to bettering trade relations. “These are achievable, practical and beneficial to both Americans and South Africans,” Bozell said. Not backing down Bozell said that the “kill the boer” chant is a “war chant”, and regardless of what South Africa’s courts say, he considers it hate speech. Regarding BEE, he said that broad-based black economic empowerment is designed to expand opportunity and correct historic injustice, which are important goals. “But when those policies are structured in ways that introduce challenges to ownership or create complex compliance requirements or are clouded in charges of corruption, investors begin to reassess risk,” he said. The ambassador said the five “asks” generally address the business environment in South Africa and issues of safety and social cohesion. Politically, however, he said that the United States also wants South Africa to become non-aligned, with concerns around the country’s “growing engagement with some of America’s greatest adversaries”. He also singled out the African National Congress (ANC), flagging a “growing antagonism” between the once-majority party and Washington. “These issues shape investor confidence. They shape strategic trust, and they shape the trajectory of our bilateral relationship,” he said. “When businesses believe their property rights may be uncertain, when policy frameworks create unpredictability instead of clarity, and when strategic alignments appear to drift towards regimes that do not share our democratic values, common ground becomes harder to sustain.” “Honest partners must be able to say this out loud,” he said. ‘Disclaimer - The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://businesstech.co.za/news/government/853477/united-states-reveals-five-demands-for-south-africa-about-bee-expropriation-and-kill-the-boer/

At the time of B-BBEE Verification , a Measured Entity needs to produce all relevant evidence or documentation to substantiate their B-BBEE claims. From a Measured Entity perspective, it is often misunderstood that confidential documentation cannot form a part of the B-BBEE Verification whereas a B-BBEE Rating Agency would require this based on the procedures that they need to follow. Reference is made to clause 2.6 under Statement 000 of the Amended General B-BBEE Codes of Good Practice  which states:   2.6 Any representation made by an Entity about its B-BBEE compliance must be supported by suitable evidence or documentation. A Measured Entity that does not provide evidence or documentation supporting any initiative must not receive any recognition for that initiative.   B-BBEE Verification Services   are available to assist Members with their B-BBEE Verification Requirements.

Shaun Jacobs | 10 March 2026 Efficient Group chief economist Dawie Roodt believes that the creation of the Transformation Fund will be the end of Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) as it is currently devised in South Africa.  BEE will not disappear entirely, but the way in which companies comply with the regulatory framework will fundamentally change.  Companies, through the Transformation Fund, will be able to effectively “buy” their BEE compliance rather than have to go through the current process of identifying their own enterprise and supplier development beneficiaries.  This has the potential to make BEE compliance far more efficient and less burdensome, making investing in South Africa more attractive and making companies more productive.  “I think this is the end of BEE in South Africa. You know what is going to result in the end of BEE? The creation of the Transformation Fund,” Roodt told State of the Nation. “In future, companies are going to ‘buy’ their BEE by giving money to this fund and this is going to become the alternative to current processes.”  Roodt explained that the logical conclusion of this process is the end of BEE as a policy framework, with it being replaced by the far simpler alternative of giving money to the government to redistribute.  “The Transformation Fund is a far more attractive alternative. It is simply another tax. So, you can forget about BEE and filling in forms, you are just going to pay money to the fund and forget about it,” Roodt explained.  “That is going to lead to the official BEE coming to an end with its elaborate processes, compliance, and forms.”  Under draft changes to South Africa’s BEE codes, proposed by Minister of Trade, Parks Tau, businesses will be able to score more BEE points by contributing to the fund than by making individual contributions to black-controlled companies.  The proposal is to increase the total points businesses can score in the Enterprise and Supplier Development element from 46 to 53, including bonus points, if they contribute to the fund. ANC open to changing BEE Roodt has also pointed to statements from members of the government, including the President, as evidence that BEE is changing in front of everyone’s eyes.  The ANC has historically not been open to even debating the merits of BEE, with changes to the policy framework almost being unimaginable.  However, in recent years, the party’s transformation agenda has come under increasing scrutiny, with it being increasingly associated with cronyism and corruption.  Criticism has ranged from political parties, such as the DA, to business leaders, such as Investec CEO Fani Titi.  US President Donald Trump and his administration have also weighed in, allegedly making the scrapping of BEE a requirement for a trade deal to be signed between South Africa and the United States.  A study from the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation found that more than half of South Africans want BEE phased out.  Despite this criticism, the ANC has said it remains committed to its transformation policies, with it saying that it will double down on BEE in South Africa.  The policy framework, however, has been called into question by its own members, who occupy high-ranking positions within the party and the government.  During his State of the Nation Address, President Ramaphosa said the government is undertaking a review to refine, realign, and strengthen its BEE framework.  This is ostensibly to ensure that the framework supports greater transformation and inclusive growth, but it is also an admission that it has not achieved its aims.  Tau has explained how the review of BEE will be conducted and outlined some of the changes that could be made as a result of it.  “The review will be implemented in two phases. The first phase will be a short-term review focusing on refinement and an analysis of subordinate legislation, which should be completed by the end of this financial year,” Tau told Parliament.  “Parallel to that, we have been in the process of consultation to finalise the Transformation Fund, and the implementation of the fund is part of the review process.” “The second phase is a long-term review which involves an analysis of the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) Act for substantive amendments.” Perhaps the most revealing admission from a high-ranking ANC member came from Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana, who said the policy should be open for honest debate.  “We must have an honest debate about BEE. But, first and foremost, it is a constitutional imperative. You cannot dismiss BEE as it is required by the Constitution,” Godongwana said.  “What we need to ask is whether there are any unintended consequences. You can’t say ‘Do away with BEE.’ Are there any unintended consequences?”  Godongwana said the debate around BEE must focus on the policy’s efficacy and whether it is actually driving the empowerment of black individuals in South Africa.  “If the debate starts there, it can start from an objective basis of analysing some of the unintended consequences, and then we can have a constructive discussion,” he said.  “The discussion at the moment is an ideological attack more than an objective analysis of its efficacy. Let’s move away from the ideological attacks on BEE.”  “Let’s go into the practicalities of analysing what some of the effects are which were not intended by the framework.” ‘Disclaimer - The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://dailyinvestor.com/south-africa/123110/goodbye-bee/

Thami Magubane | 4 March 2026 Rules governing Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) must be tightened and made more punitive to ensure compliance and clamp down on criminality such as fronting. These are among the changes called for amid frustration that the policy, which is supposed to uplift the black majority and ensure their participation in the economy, is being undermined by acts of criminality like fronting. Fronting is when a black person pretends to own a business to make it look compliant with B-BBEE laws when, in fact, the business is owned by a white person. The matter was discussed at the “Frank Dialogue on the Future of B-BBEE in South Africa” held in Durban on Saturday. In attendance were the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Parks Tau, and Deputy President Paul Mashatile. Business tycoons, including prominent Durban businessman Vivian Reddy, former Statistician-General Pali Lehohla, and other experts, gathered to discuss the importance of B-BBEE as a policy and its impact on the growth of business people. During the discussion, it emerged that over the years, the economy has never grown at the targets set by the government, and the failure to include black people as meaningful participants in the economy partly contributes to the unmet targets. Tau revealed that his department is reviewing the entire B-BBEE infrastructure to assess what has worked and how the policy can be improved. Mashatile acknowledged that while there are still challenges in implementing the policy, “it is not going anywhere”. “We can see that entrenched economic patterns remain, and we must address them honestly, with evidence and commitment to practical action.” He stated that the implementation of B-BBEE has faced inconsistencies and hurdles over the years, which are still evident today. “We must be frank; where empowerment becomes paper-based rather than production-based, where fronting occurs, and where exclusion persists, trust is weakened. We need to bolster enforcement and monitoring mechanisms that are exploited by fronting practices. Our enforcement posture must be firm and consistent, supported by credible oversight.” He emphasised that despite the challenges faced by the policy, abandoning B-BBEE is not an option. The aim of the review of the policy is very clear: to refine and reinforce the policy so that it drives transformation, reduces corruption, and promotes broad-based growth. “B-BBEE is a vital policy for promoting the meaningful involvement of historically disadvantaged groups in sectors where they have been excluded,” said the Deputy President. He added that it is essential not to conflate the failures of implementation and broader governance issues with the intrinsic purpose and design of B-BBEE. Mashatile said it is misleading to attribute complex macroeconomic outcomes solely to the policy while ignoring other pressing factors, including structural constraints. “Such factors, however, do not necessitate the abandonment of the policy. To put it plainly, abandoning B-BBEE is not an option. The path forward is reform, strengthening, and disciplined implementation. “If we are serious about advancing the future of B-BBEE, we need to urgently address the equal need for inclusion of the black majority in key sectors of the economy, such as agriculture, mining, finance, and manufacturing,” Mashatile said. Tshediso Matona, the B-BBEE commissioner, stated that there must be severe penalties for fronting. “At the moment, there are 60 cases of fronting referred for prosecution. They are just sitting there,” Matona said, adding that one of the sanctions that must be considered is to include financial fines for those implicated in fronting. Dr Nthabiseng Moleko, the National Empowerment Fund chairperson, spoke of the challenges faced in the implementation of B-BBEE that have led to economic growth below the government targets. She noted that part of the problem is that commercial banks in the country are not interested in partaking in any financial activity that could assist small business growth. She stated that another challenge is the reluctance to use pension funds in the country for investing in the development and infrastructure mandates of the country, noting that most developed countries are using this model to invest in their development. ‘Disclaimer - The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://iol.co.za/mercury/news/2026-03-02-call-for-south-africa-to-tighten-b-bbee-rules-to-combat-fronting/

Ido Lekota | 5 March 2026 The government’s decision to focus on reviewing the implementation of broad-based black economic empowerment (B-BBEE) rather than ending the policy has received another critical endorsement from Black business, development funding institutions such as the National Development Fund (NEF) and the Industrial Development Trust (IDT), traditional leaders, and civil society.  This arises from the recent Frank Dialogue on the Future of BEE organised by Professor Onkgopotse Tabane’s company Frank Dialogue and Sunday World, where this stakeholders expressed their support for the continuation of B-BBEE and went further to propose some solutions to enhance the policy’s effectiveness. The endorsement is in tandem with the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu), which has defended the B-BBEE policy, rejecting proposals from groups such as Solidarity and the Free Market Foundation to scrap it entirely. Instead, Cosatu emphasises its role in economic transformation amid ongoing debates.  Call for support Addressing said Frank Dialogue, NEF CEO Zwelabantu Dayimane said it was important that the organisations represented at the event supported the review process because for it to be effectiveness it needed the support of business, civil society (including activists and independent research institutions) independent research serving as ambassadors for the whole transformation process. Dayimane said it was important that the review led to the scaling of B-BBEE in not only promoting Black equity but also job creation to address the country’s high level of youth unemployment. He said that could only be achieved through collaboration among the groups represented in the dialogue and beyond. Tangible solutions Coming out of the dialogue was a statement of commitment from the participants to support the review process but also come up with some solutions to enhance the process of making B-BBEE more effective in driving the country’s much-needed agenda. Part of the solutions coming out of the dialogue included suggestions for the Empowerment Commission to be given enforcement powers when it comes to compliance with B-BBEE, including the right to impose fines on non-compliant companies. Verification There was also a proposal to set some verification standards for B-BBEE verification agencies to deal with, for example, practices of favouritism when it comes to companies paying bribes for favourable verification reports. In fact there was even a proposal to review the whole verification architecture to deal with such misdemeanors within the system. Most importantly, there was also a suggestion from the dialogue to enhance economic inclusivity by linking ownership metrics to conclusive transformation metrics. With regard to Enterprise Supplier Development (ESD) there is a suggestion for inclusivity-driven interventions with specific targets – such as townships and rural communities. The agreement from the dialogue was that all these suggestions would be collated and sent to Parliament as part of the public comments on the B-BBEE review process.  Refinement over abolition The Frank Dialogue’s input is in tandem with the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition’s overseeing of B-BBEE through advisory structures such as the B-BBEE Advisory Council, chaired by the president, which focuses on reviewing progress towards empowerment targets rather than ending the policy. Recent draft amendments for 2026, such as updates to the ESD scorecard, signal a government preference for refinement over abolition. Recently, the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition published these, proposing a mandatory 3% of net profit after tax  contribution under ESD, worth 20 scorecard points and subject to a 40% sub-minimum. This fund aims to centralise support for black-owned businesses, with stricter verification requiring needs analysis, performance metrics (like job creation and turnover growth), and annual monitoring reports.  Total points rise from 109 to 131 (or 142 with bonuses), making ESD dominant for both qualifying small enterprises and generic entities, with tighter procurement from 100% black-owned suppliers. Bonus points increase for supplier graduation and job creation, while benefit factors limit costs to beneficiary equipment and demand performance-based grants. ESD evidence must now prove measurable outcomes, ending light-touch contributions, with multinationals gaining flexibility via equity equivalents on scaled timelines. These changes, open for 60 days of public comment, prioritise impact-driven reform over the existing balanced scorecard.  ‘Disclaimer - The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://sundayworld.co.za/columns/business-civil-society-endorse-governemnts-b-bbee-review/

Shaun Jacobs | 9 March 2026 Annual Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) compliance costs the South African economy up to R290 billion a year in direct costs, as well as lost economic activity. This equates to around 3% of South Africa’s entire annual GDP.  While this is not necessarily a problem in itself, as every policy comes with a tradeoff of sorts and a cost, BEE is coming under increasing scrutiny as to whether it provides any benefit to South Africans.  The policy framework has become increasingly associated with cronyism and corruption, with a handful of well-connected individuals benefiting instead of a broader cross-section of society.  This has led to calls for the policy framework to be scrapped and replaced with a means-based mechanism for redistribution from the Democratic Alliance and civil society organisations.  The ANC remains committed to the policy framework, with it saying that some changes need to be made to close loopholes that are being exploited by politically connected individuals.  Crucially, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana, a high-ranking member of the ANC, has said the policy framework is up for honest debate.  This admission is significant as BEE has been treated as beyond question for years, with the ANC refusing to even engage in a debate on the policy framework’s merits.  “Evidence was ignored, critics sidelined, and the policy expanded in reach despite mounting economic strain,” the Free Market Foundation said .  The foundation, alongside Solidarity, has conducted research on the economic impact of BEE in South Africa over the past 20 years.  Their research indicated that the policy framework has had severe negative consequences for the economy – More than R5 trillion in cumulative economic losses since 2004 A 1.5% to 3% annual reduction in GDP growth Approximately 192,000 jobs are foregone each year Up to R290 billion in compliance costs annually “In a country with one of the highest unemployment rates in the world, these are not technical side effects. They are structural barriers to growth, investment and job creation,” the foundation said.  “Empowerment should mean widening opportunity, lowering barriers to entry, and enabling enterprise. Instead, BEE has entrenched insider enrichment while ordinary South Africans remain excluded from meaningful economic participation.”  Changes coming to BEE Godongwana’s admission that BEE is up for debate came with an important caveat – that transformation remains a constitutional imperative.  This means that the policy framework is unlikely to be done away with in a wholesale change, but rather alterations are set to be made to existing transformation policies.  “We must have an honest debate about BEE. But, first and foremost, it is a constitutional imperative. You cannot dismiss BEE as it is required by the Constitution,” Godongwana said.  “What we need to ask is whether there are any unintended consequences. You can’t say ‘Do away with BEE.’ Are there any unintended consequences?” “If the debate starts there, it can start from an objective basis of analysing some of the unintended consequences, and then we can have a constructive discussion.” Godongwana is not the only high-ranking ANC official to say that changes are likely to be made to the BEE framework in South Africa, with Trade Minister Parks Tau overseeing a two-phased review of transformational policies.  This two-phased review is part of the implementation of the Transformation Fund, which may replace the existing BEE framework entirely.  The second, longer-term review focuses on the effects of BEE policies on the economy and how they can be improved to ensure positive outcomes.  Tau’s proposal and the looming implementation of the Transformation Fund are set to be the most significant change to BEE in South Africa in years.  The draft changes to South Africa’s BEE codes show that the intention is for the fund to be capitalised through businesses’ enterprise and supplier development contributions.  This fund will then use the capital it manages to invest in and finance small- and medium-sized black-controlled businesses.  Under the existing BEE codes, all businesses must make contributions, in cash or in kind, to these types of businesses, with some also being their suppliers. Tau’s changes are set to allow businesses to instead make contributions to a centralised fund, which will then deploy money to beneficiaries in line with BEE principles. This would mean that businesses would no longer have to identify their own enterprise and supplier development beneficiaries or go through third-party intermediaries. Crucially, while the 3% net profit after tax spending target will remain unchanged, businesses could score more points by contributing to the fund than by making individual contributions to black-controlled companies. “This shows that BEE is probably going to be redefined, and I think this is probably the beginning of the end of BEE as we know it,” Efficient Group chief economist Dawie Roodt said.  Roodt explained that the existing BEE framework is likely to be replaced with the new Transformation Fund, with businesses paying into the fund to secure points for their BEE scorecard.  “This will probably be the end of BEE when this process is followed through to its conclusion,” Roodt said. ‘Disclaimer - The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://dailyinvestor.com/south-africa/122834/bee-costs-south-africa-r290-billion-a-year/

Zainul Dawood | 4 March 2026 Job creation is a priority for the eThekwini Municipality when they participate in the Global Business Services (GBS) development programme costing R3 million per year. A report from the Economic Development and Planning Committee was approved in council for the GBS sector development programme to undertake development programmes to grow the sector in the eThekwini municipal area and to improve employment creation. The municipality will also enter into a new Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the industry association, Business Process Enabling South Africa (BPeSA) KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). Since the collaborative agreement between the eThekwini Municipality and BPeSA KZN, the industry has witnessed an increase in jobs created in the region. The municipality's partnership agreement with BPeSA KZN ended in December 2025. The partnership with BPeSA KZN, a regional wing of the National BPeSA body started in 2016, and has been renewed every three years through a Council Resolution, and subsequently, a three year MOA. According to the report, the programmes have an economic growth potential, which also has potential for new labour absorption. The municipality believes that the GBS has the potential to create a large number of sustainable job opportunities for the youth. "This strategic partnership enjoys the support of the major industry role players and key stakeholders in the regional and national level. As an industry driven initiative, it draws on leadership and expertise of individualsfrom a broad range of GBS member fields. It uses the expertise to identify and address a wide range of challenges confronting the industry," the report stated.  In the next three financial years (FY) the industry intends to enroll 1,500 youth to the programme. "The training boosts the individual's personal confidence and competence. It also builds an individual's confidence and competence in numeracy, basic PC skills, problem solving and logic, induction to contact centres, telephone etiquette, and customer service," the municipality said. The GBS skills development programmes for the next three years include:  Work Readiness Programme  Skills Development programme in partnership with Public Employment Programmes (PEP) office.This partnership yielded positive results and contributed immensely to employment creation among the youth  Business development. Between 2010 and the first quarter of 2025 173, 944 internationals cumulative GBS jobs were created, generating export revenue of US $2 783 billion. The MOA will entail R3.1 million for 2025 2026 FY; R3.3 million for 2026/2027 FY, and R3.4 million for the 2027/2028 FY.  "The proposed budget will enable agents training, team leaders training, master classesfor specialised skills and knowledge sharing initiatives with the primary objective of'Increasing the size of the GBS sector across Durban and in turn creating much needed employment for young people,"the report added.  According to the report, approximately 70% of skills development initiatives and job opportunities are targeted towards African youth, especially women. ‘Disclaimer - The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://iol.co.za/news/south-africa/kwazulu-natal/2026-03-04-ethekwini-municipality-invests-r3-million-in-job-creation-programme/

Thami Magubane | 5 March 2026 The Commission on Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) has expressed concerns about the lack of transformation in key areas of the property sector. A study by the commission titled “South Africa's Transformation Landscape 2013-2023” has found that the sector is lagging behind in several indicators of transformation on the B-BBEE scorecard. The study tracked macro and sector compliance trends and progress across key B-BBEE elements such as ownership, management, enterprise/supplier development, and skills development, among others, over the sample period 2013–2023. Its concerns are shared by black business leaders who are calling for a more interventionist approach by the government to transform the sector. They warned that without a more “direct approach”, the sector, particularly private property development, is unlikely to transform. Tshediso Matona, the B-BBEE commissioner, tabled the study during a meeting held in Durban on Saturday. The meeting examined what has been achieved by the policy and identified shortcomings and the future of this policy. Matona stated that the property sector continues to lag in terms of transformation. “Yes, the property sector is still falling behind,” he told the business people and experts attending the engagement. The study highlights several key scorecard indicators. The study showed that, on ownership, the property sector was one of the worst performers in 2023. “Most sectors achieved above 70% of ownership targets, except for property, which also performed poorly, along with agriculture,” said the study. For another indicator, the Enterprise and Supplier Development, the study showed that the scorecard also placed the property sector among the worst in 2023. Prominent businessman Vivian Reddy said it is true that the property sector is the least transformed. “I looked at a slide (contained in the study by the commission) that said, “the property sector is the least transformed in South Africa; that is absolutely true; in fact, it’s a disgrace.” “When Sandton was being built, there was R26 billion worth of construction work underway. I drove past every one of them (signs indicating people involved in the project), and there was not a single board showing any black (African, coloured, or Indian) professionals involved in the project.” Reddy said it seems transformation principles are abused when untransformed companies want to benefit from government work. “When people want to tender for the government, they go and find a black partner, but in the private sector, it’s an absolute abuse of the system.” He added that he is fighting against this lack of transformation. “When we were doing the Oceans Development, a R5 billion project that employed 6,000 people, I decided to change things. We ensured that in the professional teams, 90% were black. We insisted in the contract that the contractor had to employ 25% black women on the site, and they did it. 15% of them were youth, and of the R5 billion project, R3.5 billion went to black contractors and SMMEs.” Reddy added that, “In the private sector, we have to enforce empowerment as property developers; that is what we have to do. You (government) need to bring in private developers (and engage them on this); they are developing property worth hundreds of billions of rand; it is essential to enforce empowerment. The black professionals are crying out. “In Oceans Development, we are building the last tower, now valued at R1.4 billion. We insisted that the contractor have a black professional, and he is there and has female black engineers,” he said, adding that such actions are necessary to transform the sector. ‘Disclaimer - The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://themercury.co.za/news/2026-03-05-why-is-property-sector-transformation-stalling-latest-b-bbee-commission-insights/

Ian Ferguson | 2 March 2026 Peter Attard Montalto’s most recent column refers (“After the budget delivery is up to line departments”, February 25). Our state does not do “long, hard slogs”, or if it does it is usually to double down on irrational, racial and ideologically damaging economic policies. One example is the Mining Charter, which blocks any foreign direct investment into new mining, the sector that is responsible for the present windfall in tax revenue. Due to the Employment Equity Act we in effect severely limit our human capital and human capital development, so there are very few people who are even capable of doing the “long, hard slog”. This is all before we even consider the huge opportunity cost of BEE, especially in underserved poor communities, Starlink being but one example of shooting ourselves in the foot. Breaking out of the 1%-2% growth trap will not be achieved by a “long, hard slog”, it will only be done once we move on from using the past to justify racial retribution and black nationalism. We need to get to a place where all South Africans (and foreign investors) have equal opportunity to invest and contribute unhindered by state over-reach and self-defeating legislation. For economic growth it matters not who owns the means of production (which our state is fixated on), but that investors are willing to put up their hard-earned money for a fair return, which legislation clearly does not encourage. Get this right and the “long, hard slog” may add value. ‘Disclaimer - The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://www.businessday.co.za/opinion/2026-03-02-letter-state-policies-limit-growth/