Bizcommunity | 17 October 2023 TFG (The Foschini Group) has launched the first collection from its innovative Sustainable Design Incubator programme aimed at fostering sustainable fashion practices and supporting young emerging designers. The programme provides a platform for emerging talents to showcase their creativity while making a positive impact on the environment. “With TFG’s commitment to job creation and the development of the South African design and manufacturing industry, our Sustainable Design Incubator provides an important platform to grow skills and provide experience for young designers. TFG aims to empower talented South African designers by offering unrivalled access to the market and networking opportunities, which are vital for building successful and thriving fashion businesses,” said TFG CEO, Anthony Thunström. The emerging designers were selected through a rigorous process, with TFG collaborating with established institutions like the Cape Town Fashion Council, SA Fashion Week, and All Fashion Sourcing. This ensures that the programme enrols exceptional talent with the potential to excel in the fashion industry. The TFG Sustainable Design Incubator provides a six-month incubation period for the designers, fostering their growth and honing their skills from some of TFG’s best talent. The incubator challenges these designers to prioritise the use of zero-waste design techniques and more sustainable fabrics in creating commercial garments. During their mentorship period, they undergo comprehensive training sessions conducted by designers and entrepreneurs, focusing on topics such as marketing, a sustainable approach to fashion, waste reduction through zero-waste practices, and commercial skills. Additionally, each designer gets access to TFG’s design and manufacturing facilities to produce their collections and receives sponsored equipment. Leveraging TFG’s ecosystem, the selected designers’ ranges have launched on Bash. The market access opportunity provided through Bash is designed to leverage TFG’s more than 30 million customers through the local fashion and lifestyle shopping app. A further highlight is some of the designers getting the coveted opportunity to showcase their designs at the renowned SA Fashion Week. “The Sustainable Design Incubator stands as a testament to TFG's commitment to fostering sustainability and diversity in the fashion industry. By empowering emerging designers, TFG is actively contributing to a more sustainable and inclusive future for fashion,” concluded Thunström. ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/462/242821.html

Eva Sgroi | 17 October 2023 MTN Xlerator is MTN South Africa’s enterprise supplier development (ESD) programme that plans to increase MTN’s procurement spend by R4 billion over two years with 51% black-owned SMMEs. The programme plans to double the number of SMMEs on its supplier database and will uplift them through business strategy development, skills development, and improved funding access. Payabill, the SME financing fintech, has been chosen by MTN as one of the finance partners for its Xlerator programme. Managing cash flow is a real challenge for SMEs across sectors. The founders established Payabill to aid businesses lacking sufficient funds in purchasing stock, assets, or services from suppliers who require upfront cash. Payabill targets SMEs with annual revenues between R500,000 and R30 million, giving them working and other capital to grow their businesses. It offers various forms of finance including local and international trade finance, as well as asset finance. Explains Eli Michal, Payabill CEO: “We are excited to have been selected by MTN to partner on its Xlerator programme. Playbill has already paid many suppliers in most sectors chosen by its customers all over the country.” As part of the arrangement, Payabill will also actively introduce and enhance the opportunities of its qualifying clients to the MTN Xlerator programme. “Small businesses are neglected by banks and other lenders due to high perceived credit risk, and associated costs of assessment and collection. SMEs see these lenders as having onerous credit requirements to keep them out. Payabill is different. Payabill is welcoming, quick, and easy to deal with and can provide funding in hours due to its bespoke credit methodology,” says Michal. The MTN ESD program invites SMMEs that operate for a minimum of six months, have over 51% black ownership, generate under R500m annual turnover, and are managed daily by black key staff. Charles Molapisi, MTN SA CEO adds, “MTN Xlerator is a symbol of our unwavering commitment to progress, innovation, and empowerment. We believe in the enormous, unearthed potential within South Africa. At MTN, we believe in the evolution of empowerment and our goal is to transition from a transaction-based supply chain to a values-based one, ensuring everyone enjoys the benefits of a connected world while building a better tomorrow.” Michal adds, “We take risk where it matters – at the coalface of SA’s businesses – by helping smaller businesses that have little security and struggle to get funding. We pay suppliers when sales aren’t yet guaranteed and take risks where no one else would consider it. We are intent on helping those businesses locked out of the market at a time when SA businesses need all the support they can get.” ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://www.itnewsafrica.com/2023/10/mtn-to-up-procurement-spend-by-r4-billion-and-offers-support-to-smes/

Ambani Reputation Management | 18 October 2023 Airports Company South Africa's (ACSA) contribution to the economic growth and development of South Africa extends beyond the numbers, telling a story of a key enabler of economic growth, transformation and socio-economic development. As ACSA celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, it is fitting to note its massive contribution towards and support for socio-economic activities that empower communities for a better future around its airports across the country. “ACSA’s socio-economic development (SED) programmes are focused around our sustainability framework, which covers business, people and society, as well as the environment,” says Elelwani Tshikovhi, group manager for transformation at ACSA. “The SED programmes focus on sustainable initiatives in youth empowerment, women empowerment, education, disability, protection of the environment and employee volunteering. We support socio-economic activities that empower communities for a better future and our moral imperative is to create fair, transparent, equal opportunities for the economically active population and eliminate unfair discrimination.” At the same time, Tshikovhi notes that as ACSA celebrates 30 years of existence, it is also marking Transport Month in October, which calls for a celebration of its post-Covid-19 recovery, which is positively impacting ACSA’s bottom line. “While we celebrate the benefits that our communities derive from aviation industry, we must remember that we should also be celebrating air transport. The more people travel by air, the better our business performance, meaning that our contribution to SED initiatives grows proportionately,” she says. “Thus, the contribution that ACSA makes to air transport in Southern Africa has a direct impact on the communities in which we operate.” In accordance with its Integrated Transformation Agenda, which is driven through the five-year Socio-Economic Development Strategy, ACSA has invested in excess of R150 million in SED projects since 2018. Its Cluster 2 airports – Cape Town International Airport, Upington International Airport, George Airport and Kimberley Airport – are involved in several SED projects ranging from firefighting training for women to empowering community members to become solar panel installers. “The ripple effect of poverty, inequality and unemployment is so severe that we needed to specifically focus on those factors, because those are the realities that many in our country are faced with, and it isn’t any different for our local communities,” says Tshikovhi. For example, Upington International Airport’s firefighting training course for women not only created skills but also promoted employment for young women, while the cluster also supported a project for women empowerment through a sewing programme for unemployed elderly women. Cape Town International Airport and Kimberley Airport took part in an environmental sustainability programme aimed at managing the waste that is dumped around the airports. The project created 30 direct job opportunities and simultaneously ensured thatthe airport surroundings are clean and monitored at all times. From an environmental sustainability perspective, Cape Town International Airport supports a humane and ecologically sound bird and wildlife management programme around its vicinity, as well as a partnership with non-profit organisation Green Cape to provide renewable energy to households in two communities that do not have legal access to electricity. George and Kimberley Airports participate in a programme that is aimed at helping the youth with acquiring carpentry and woodwork skills, which will assist them to generate an income. The project aims to build technical skills in furniture making for 20 unemployed youth in Green Point, in Kimberly, and in various communities in George. Other projects across the airport cluster include a skills development programme for Agro-Processing, Green Economy Fruit Farming and Processing that teaches beneficiaries to agro-process, package and resell fruit to generate sustainable revenue. ACSA values diversity and inclusion by ensuring that we contribute towards a sustainable livelihood of people with disabilities within the communities. Partnership with a disability skills development centre has assisted people with disabilities surrounding the Upington Airport to acquire bricklaying and paving skills which enablesthem to earn an income and sustain their families. Additionally, Cape Town International Airport also drives a sports development programme for youth to be trained football referees in conjunction with the South African Football Association of the Western Cape. “These are just some of the projects that demonstrate our commitment to support socio-economic activities. Whilst our social imperative is to assist people living below the poverty line and assist them to mainstream economic growth by designing and implementing socio-economic activities that empowers them to ultimately lead better lives,” says Tshikovhi. “As a state-owned enterprise, we believe our approach to value creation must certainly include a socio-economic development component which includes not only transformation within the group at board and employee level, but also in communities surrounding our airports. As such, we are dedicated to supporting skills development programmes, corporate social investment and preferential procurement across all part of the country, given our national footprint.” ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/583/242928.html

Creamer Media | 17 October 2023 Modern technologies require modern skills to drive employability. We have witnessed the industry evolve from the first industrial revolution to what is currently known as the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). This current revolution, also known as Industry 4.0 is defined by a combination of advances in Digitalisation, Integration, Big Data, Virtual Reality (VR), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Robotics, the Internet of Things (IoT), 3D printing, and a wide range other technology. The job market's needs and requirements are quickly changing because of this technology. As a result, it has become even more crucial for educational institutions to implement a curriculum that will prepare students who will graduate confidently into a 4IR labour market. merSETA, which is part of the 21 industry Sector Education and Training Authorities for skills development, partnered with Festo, a leading worldwide supplier of Industrial Automation solutions and a global leader in technical education, to establish a 4IR skills centre at Maluti TVET College. The College is a key educational institution in the rural parts of the Free State in Phuthaditjhaba. It has established itself as the institution of choice in technical and vocational education and training, with the vision to offer training for Industry 4.0 through a curriculum that incorporates the rapid advancements in current technology and the necessary future skills that can place the country on a global pedestal. Maluti TVET College is now in a position to provide its students with the skills required to increase their employability and productivity in the workplace. Hands-on skills in Industrial Robotics, Digitalisation, Control in pneumatics, Smart production lines, 3D printing, VR and Augmented Reality, Networking and IT Security, as well as Mobile Robotics, are some of the key topics the centre can now provide. The 4IR lab was launched on the 8th of December 2022 in the Free State. The opening was officiated by the Acting Principal of Maluti TVET College, Mr Motlalepula Tsotetsi; the acting CEO of the merSETA, Mrs Ncedisa Mpande; and the Head of Didactic in Southern and Eastern Africa of Festo, Mr Horst Weinert. "This skills centre will offer students a fresh and unique opportunity to address youth unemployment by specifically adjusting TVET education models to upskill the next generation and catalyse innovation for digital transformation," said Mrs Mpande, positioning the role of the merSETA during her speech at the launch of the skills centre. The state-of-the-art 4IR skills centre is equipped with industrial technology that will uniquely address Industry 4.0 topics across different streams. This cutting-edge equipment includes: Bionics, Robotics and Coding Embedded microcontrollers Fluid power technology, sensor technology Digitalised Pump system 4.0 Digitalisation, PLC programming, Cyber Security Mobile Robotics and Smart Factory integration Connected learning and Virtual Reality 3D printing additive manufacturing Intelligent components and Industry 4.0 systems Smart sensors and actuators Mechatronic Modular Production Systems. During his speech, Mr Weinert mentioned that as an employer, his interest lies in the students' technical ability, and these skills can be achieved through an industry-driven curriculum. He added that the Industry 4.0 technology paired with this curriculum would transform Maluti TVET College to become highly attractive for future engineers to study. This will be beneficial to the greater community, and moving South Africa to a knowledge economy. Festo is honoured to have been a part of building a legacy that will reform the education of the people of Phuthaditjhaba, the District, the Province, and the Country. ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/merseta-partners-with-festo-to-establish-a-fourth-industrial-revolution-skills-centre-at-maluti-tvet-college-2023-10-17

Isaac Sileku | 16 October 2023 CWP provides job safety net for unemployed people of working age and provides bridging opportunity for unemployed youth. In the 2022/23 financial year, the Department of Local Government created 16 689 job opportunities through its Community Works Programme (CWP). The CWP provides a job safety net for unemployed people of working age and provides a bridging opportunity for unemployed youth and other job-seekers, providing them with income to support them in their search for full-time or part-time employment. Programme participants do community work, such as social services, thereby contributing to improvements that benefit all residents throughout the Western Cape. The CWP workers located in the Metropolitan and the five Districts continue to improve access to government services and economic opportunities. This includes supporting initiatives that enhance social well-being, encompassing areas such as Social Development, Education, Health Services, Safety and Security Support, as well as Municipal and Human Settlement Support. Additionally, four Socio-Economic projects were implemented in Bergriver, Hessequa, Mossel Bay, and Overstrand, including: - Multifunctional youth development and training facility in Bergrivier; - Learners license & driver’s license project in Hessequa; - Sewing and beading project in Mossel Bay; - Thusong digital youth ambassadors in Overstrand. MPP Isaac Sileku said: “In the 2022/23 Annual report, the Department of Local Government demonstrated outstanding performance by not only meeting but often exceeding their targets, even when many of them were substantially raised from the previous fiscal year. One of the most impactful actions this government can take is to create jobs for the residents of the Western Cape. The Western Cape Government is doing its part to ensure the province remains the frontrunner in job creation across all provinces, with the lowest expanded unemployment rate in the country and over 368 000 jobs created between the second quarters of 2022 and 2023. The Democratic Alliance in the Western Cape remains committed to relentlessly pursuing the creation of more job opportunities, and will continue to work tirelessly to achieve this.” ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://www.politicsweb.co.za/politics/dept-of-local-government-creates-16-700-jobs--da-w

IT-Online | 16 October 2023 South Africa finds itself amidst a complex web of social, economic, and environmental crises, writes Bonga Ntuli, executive board member and director of strategy and digital services at Royal HaskoningDHV Southern Africa. While some strides have been made toward achieving the universally endorsed Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the persistent legacy of segregated development continues to hinder the country’s pursuit of sustainable and inclusive economic growth. Despite being classified as an upper-middle-income nation and boasting one of Africa’s largest economies, South Africa grapples with an alarming distinction: it holds the world’s highest ranking for inequality and unemployment rates. Compounding this, the nation, amidst a global era of climate upheaval, stands as Africa’s leading polluter, contributing the highest volume of carbon emissions across the continent. Equally concerning, its citizens report the lowest levels of psychological well-being on a global scale. In order to bolster governmental endeavours toward realising the SDGs, diverse sectors within South Africa must closely monitor the social and environmental resources cultivated through their corporate social investments. It is paramount for each sector to ensure that these resources possess the capacity to yield sustainable, inclusive returns in social, economic, and environmental domains. At the crux of all three dimensions lies the most pivotal resource – human capital. This encompasses the reservoir of skills that individuals employ to create economic value within their surroundings. However, to transcend the focus merely on economic gains, the concept of human capitalisation must evolve, transforming into a process that not only generates profits, but also enriches transferable human proficiencies and contributes to environmental rejuvenation. Traditionally, the human capitalisation process commences in formal education institutions and extends through professional development in employment or entrepreneurial ventures. In South Africa, though, a significant portion of the population – a staggering 48,3% of the unemployed in Q1 2023 – become entangled within the human capitalisation value chain. Among this group, 48,3% held education levels below matric, 40,7% possessed matric as their highest educational attainment, a mere 2,7% held tertiary qualifications, 7,5% boasted other tertiary qualifications, and 0,7% were classified under the category “other”. Further exacerbating the issue, 44,7% of the working-age population between 15 and 34 years old remained classified as NEET (not in employment, education, or training). This demographic, lacking matric qualifications and devoid of participation in formal learning, emerges as the most susceptible to unemployment. Added to this, more than 716 000 graduates applied for the monthly R350 social grant in January 2023, according to officials. In a nation where human potential languishes, the repercussions extend across society, fueling social regression. The consequences of this ripple across the socioeconomic spectrum. A survey conducted by PwC, titled “Global Workforce Hopes and Fears 2022”, highlights the factors contributing to the worldwide loss of human capital experienced in recent times. The survey underscores that instilling personal fulfilment and empowerment within social institutions holds the potential to amplify well-being and productivity across these establishments, yielding positive outcomes on individual, professional, and even societal levels. Strategies promoting personal fulfilment and empowerment necessitate the development of specialised, scarce skills, equipping individuals to navigate market dynamics and respond innovatively. PwC emphasises that “leaders must recognise that employees can either be a force multiplier or a detractor. Research by PwC reveals that the workforce represents the foremost risk to growth, while also serving as the primary conduit for implementing growth-oriented strategies.” To augment corporate social impact in South Africa, upskilling employees should extend beyond specific job requisites. The emphasis should pivot toward cultivating transferable skills, enabling continuous reinvestment in lifelong learning and multifaceted growth. Additionally, corporations can bolster environmental impact by empowering workers with an awareness of their roles in fostering environmental growth, nurturing active citizenship. In particular, the construction sector within South Africa possesses untapped potential for social, economic, and environmental justice impact. While recognised for its contribution to the nation’s economic advancement, the sector’s potential effects on social and environmental justice remain largely uncharted. According to the UK’s Chartered Institute of Building’s (CIOB) socio-economic analysis, the construction industry wields influence beyond conventional metrics of human productivity and environmental alteration. It substantially shapes individuals’ psychological well-being and, on a broader scale, fosters social cohesion. This sector bears responsibility for erecting and maintaining homes, schools, workplaces, hospitals, roads, bridges, and various essential infrastructure that is pivotal for enhancing citizens’ quality of life. Given the ongoing global push for sustainable and inclusive economic growth, South Africa’s construction sector must adopt a focused approach that concurrently fosters social, economic, and environmental justice within the built environment. For instance, the sector could establish continuous professional development initiatives to upskill low-level construction workers in green building practices. This would not only empower workers with transferable green construction skills, applicable both in their communities and across diverse industries, but also heighten awareness of collective climate action as an imperative of active citizenship. Consequently, individuals would be equipped to contribute to ecosystem regeneration in their own capacity. And only then can we start to realistically deal with the challenges of low human capitalisation rate, high unemployment, and poverty in our country and its communities. ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://it-online.co.za/2023/10/16/dealing-with-sas-neglected-human-capital-potential-2/

Polity: 16 October 2023 Three hundred and forty six staff members and external candidates were honoured at a certification ceremony for the City’s Water and Sanitation Learnership and Apprenticeship Programme held earlier this week. The programme provided for transfer of skills in water-related trades, recognised in industry. The success of the programme increases the City’s talent pool and gives staff the necessary qualifications to progress in their careers. The momentous certification ceremony was a celebration of a significant milestone for the Water and Sanitation Directorate in its journey to improve the quality of service delivery by investing in the development of staff. Honoured guest Councillor Zahid Badroodien, Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation, presided over the ceremony, congratulating the graduates on their exceptional achievements. The Apprenticeship and Learnership programme was initiated to address the skills shortage identified in the artisan and process controller streams. The objective was to develop ready-to-place talent, able to fill existing and future vacancies. Multiple programmes were offered from 2019 - June 2023, with the certification ceremony held on Wednesday, 10 October 2023, at Wittebomme Civic Centre in Wynberg. The mutually beneficial programmes provide staff with in-depth knowledge, skills, competencies and recognised industry qualifications. This enables them to do their work with confidence, knowing how to apply correct methods and techniques as required. It also helps to ensure that all service compliance standards are met. For external candidates, the programme has been especially valuable in order to gain insight into the qualifications required to be employable in the water industry. The opportunity also served as a means to motivate City staff and boost their morale, which aids in retaining skilled staff. As a direct result, the vacancy rate has reduced from 20% to 8,25%, to date. ‘We are delighted to share the news of more than 300 graduates, who achieved their goals by successfully completing accredited water and sanitation-related certification programmes. These dedicated individuals have demonstrated their commitment to continuous professional and personal growth. This has led to 47 apprentices being advanced into new roles as artisans and 73 staff members advancing to the next level of permanent positions within the directorate,’ said Councillor Badroodien. The programmes were provided for through registered training institutions including Northlink College, False Bay College, Industry Education and Training Authority, Portable Water Institute, National Occupational Safety Association and College of Cape Town. Modules offered included: Apprenticeship Programmes for 98 participants in the following trades: Plumbing and electrical trades for internal staff Millwrights and bricklaying for external candidates Learnership Programmmes for 238 participants (including those with disabilities) towards the following qualifications: National Certificate: Water and Wastewater Process Operations National Certificate: Water and Wastewater Process Control National Certificate: Water and Wastewater Reticulation Services National Certificate: Professional Driving National Certificate: Public Administration ‘The City’s investment in upskilling officials ensures a bright future for progressive service delivery. We are fostering a culture of continuous learning and development, to produce a skilled workforce, capable of maintaining infrastructure, as well as applying effective methods and processes needed in Water and Sanitation today and in the many years to come,’ said Councillor Badroodien. ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://www.polity.org.za/article/city-upskills-workforce-through-apprenticeships-and-learnerships-for-better-service-delivery-2023-10-16

Mudiwa Gavaza | 16 October 2023 MTN’s SA unit has signed a deal with local fintech company Payabill as part of its enterprise supplier development (ESD) programme that plans to increase its mobile procurement spend by R4bn over two years with 51% black-owned small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs). The programme — “MTN Xlerator” — plans to double the number of SMMEs on its supplier database and hopes this will uplift them through business strategy development, skills development, and improved funding access. MTN is working with lenders and banks on the programme, including Johannesburg-based Payabill. Over the years, corporates in SA have been working to diversify their supply chains, giving opportunities to previously disadvantaged groups through ESD programmes. ESD is a strategic business process that involves the development and growth of black-owned and managed SMEs that supply goods and services to large enterprises. MTN’s procurement spend rose from about R26bn in 2018 to more than R44bn in five years. The company said R17bn of that spend went to entities that are at least 30% black women-owned in the 2022 financial year. In the same year, rival Vodacom said it spent R45bn on all suppliers with B-BBEE status, with R17.5bn spent with greater than 51% black-owned suppliers. This was in addition to R18.5bn spent on suppliers that had greater than 30% black women ownership. “MTN Xlerator is a symbol of our unwavering commitment to progress, innovation, and empowerment. We believe in the enormous, unearthed potential within SA,” MTN SA CEO Charles Molapisi said in a statement. “At MTN, we believe in the evolution of empowerment and our goal is to transition from a transaction-based supply chain to a values-based one, ensuring everyone enjoys the benefits of a connected world while building a better tomorrow.” To make this happen, SA’s second-largest mobile operator has signed a deal with Payabill, an SME financing fintech company, as one of the finance partners for the Xlerator programme. Payabill provides access to funding for SA SMEs. It was founded to assist those businesses that don’t have sufficient funds to buy stock, assets or services from suppliers who demand cash upfront. The company targets businesses with annual revenues between R500,000 and R30m, giving them working and other capital to grow their businesses, offering various forms of finance including local and international trade finance, as well as asset finance. Payabill said it welcomes MTN as another partner to achieve its objectives “in giving SA’s SMEs a chance to compete and grow.” “Small businesses are neglected by banks and other lenders due to high perceived credit risk, and associated costs of assessment and collection,” says Payabill CEO Eli Michal. “SMEs see these lenders as having onerous credit requirements to keep them out. Payabill is different. Payabill is welcoming, quick and easy to deal with and can provide funding in hours due to its bespoke credit methodology”. MTN’s programme is open for SMMEs that have been in business for at least six months, are at least 51% black-owned, achieve an annual turnover of R500m or less and have daily operations that have black managers in key positions. ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/companies/telecoms-and-technology/2023-10-16-mtn-boosts-esd-programme-with-payabill-deal/

More often than not when organisations enter into a relationship with an Enterprise Development or Supplier Development Beneficiary, it wants a guarantee that their investment will be successful. Hence, many choose to incorporate accountability clauses to secure their investment. However, Clause 4.12 in Statement 400 of the Amended General B-BBEE Codes of Good Practice states: "4.12 Measured Entities are encouraged to develop and implement an Enterprise Development plan and Supplier Development plan for Qualifying Beneficiaries. The plan should include: 4.12.1 Clear Objectives; 4.12.2 Priority Interventions; 4.12.3 Key Performance indicators; and 4.12.4 A concise implementation plan with clearly articulated milestones". Placing accountability conditions on Beneficiaries may be punitive without taking into account all factors in clause 4.12. Enterprise & Supplier Development Services are on hand to guide organisations before entering into a contractual agreement with a Beneficiary, as Sector Codes may have differing requirements.

The B-BBEE Commission has over the years continued to be inundated with requests from various stakeholders to confirm validity of B-BBEE Verification Certificates, Sworn Affidavits and CIPC EME B-BBEE Certificates, which process has resulted in the B-BBEE Commission issuing a number of advisory letters to the affected entities to advise of invalidity of such documentation and the need to withdraw the invalid B-BBEE Verification Certificates, Sworn Affidavits or CIPC EME B-BBEE Certificates. Thus, the purpose of this Practice Guide was to set out the approach for stakeholders to determine the validity of B-BBEE Verification Certificates, Sworn Affidavits and CIPC EME B-BBEE Certificates for consistency. This Practice Guide replaced Practice Guide 01 of 2018 as of 01 November 2022. Certificate Collection Services are available to in understanding the validity of B-BBEE Verification Certificates, Sworn Affidavits and CIPC EME B-BBEE Certificates.

Mandisa Ndlovu | 14 October 2023 October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month and experts in the insurance field say 90% of African businesses are operating without the necessary protocols, putting themselves and their clients at risk of massive reputational and financial losses. The IBM annual Cost of a Data Breach Report shows that breaches have set back local companies an average of over R49 million each year in South Africa, yet many businesses still ignore the threat. A report by cybersecurity company Kaspersky said spyware attacks in South Africa increased by 18.8% between the last quarter of 2022 and first quarter of 2023 and were up 12.9% and 14.6% in Kenya and Nigeria, respectively. Commercial partner at King Price Insurance George Parrott said cybercrime has become one of the biggest risks to business survival in the country’s small, medium and micro enterprises (SMME) sector. “Businesses, especially in the SMME sector, are more prone to attacks as what they spend on firewalls and security solutions just can not match the tools that cybercriminals have at their disposal. “Some business owners may mistakenly think that, because they store their sensitive data in the cloud, the cloud platform operator is responsible for that data but that isn’t the case,” said Parrott. He shared some tips and highlighted the importance of being proactive to ensure that the correct processes and protections are in place. He said awareness is the most important aspect of cybersecurity. “You can have all the security and firewalls in the world but they count for nothing if one employee clicks on a dodgy link in an SMS or an email. “I cannot stress how important it is to not only have a strong remote working security policy, but also to constantly keep security top of mind with every single employee.” Parrot said businesses must update their security software and install it correctly. “When your device is in the office, and connected to the company network, security updates are installed automatically. “Away from the office, it is the ‘Wild West’, with many remote employees either postponing, or altogether avoiding, installing updates. You have to make it as easy as possible for your people to stay updated, otherwise you are putting yourself at risk,” he said. Businesses should not wait for an attack to happen before action is taken. “Good password hygiene, multi-factor authentication, training, back-ups, awareness and cyber insurance can all help to mitigate the impact of a cyberattack and these days it is best to make use of as many of these tools as possible. “This highlights the need for continuous training of employees but, even here, training can only go so far. The fact is that cybercriminals are constantly improving their methods of attack and compromise through the use of emerging and ever-evolving technologies.” ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://mg.co.za/news/2023-10-14-smmes-lose-r49-million-annually-to-cyber-breaches/

SA News | 13 October 2023 Although there has been improvement in women’s empowerment since the dawn of democracy, there is a need for improvement in the gender responsiveness of all national departments. This is according to President Cyril Ramaphosa who was appearing at the National Council of Provinces for a Questions for Oral Reply session. “The Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities analyses the draft Annual Performance Plans of various departments each year to assess their responsiveness to gender considerations. The findings indicate gradual improvement since the adoption of the framework in 2019. “However, the average overall gender responsiveness score for all national departments is at 54 percent, indicating that there is a need for improvement in many departmental programmes, projects and budgets. “Evaluations of the implementation of the Gender Responsive Planning Budgeting, Monitoring, Evaluation and Auditing Framework have shown improvements in mainstreaming since the framework’s adoption, but progress has not been as fast as desired,” he said. The President insisted that government is committed to intensifying efforts to afford women more opportunities. He added, however, that effective political and administrative leadership is crucial to ensuring sustainable and substantive gender mainstreaming across government. “Several policies and initiatives have been put in place to increase women’s access to finance to promote economic empowerment. Numerous financial institutions and funds have been established to help black South Africans obtain access to loans, some of which have specifically targeted women. “To support our goal of directing at least 40 percent of procurement in the public sector towards women-owned businesses, the Women’s Economic Empowerment Programme has been training women-owned business across several provinces. At least 6 290 women business owners have been trained on doing business with government, compliance and governance matters. “Key government departments have integrated gender-responsive procurement in their demand plans and report on this monthly. However, these numbers are still low. Procurement from women-owned enterprises currently stands at 11 percent across the public sector,” he said. Turning to the challenges women entrepreneurs face – including lack of access to support and gender discrimination – the President said government and the private sector have come together to address these through the establishment of the Women’s Economic Assembly. “Since its launch in October 2021, the Women Economic Assembly has encouraged industry leaders to set gender transformation targets in each industry, implement existing commitments and increase procurement opportunities for women-owned businesses. “Through the Women Economic Assembly, billions of Rands have been committed by private sector business to facilitate women’s participation through enterprise development, earmarked funding and supplier off-take agreements. “All of these efforts, both in government and in the private sector, are seeing progress in gender mainstreaming and the economic empowerment of women. However, there is still much further to go and much work to be done,” President Ramaphosa said. ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/womens-empowerment-firm-priority