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SA News | 5 August 2026 2026 reporting period will be first year of assessment for all designated employers who submit reports. The 2026 reporting period will be first assessment for all designated employers who submit employment equity plan reports – thus giving employers a base from which to assess progress towards achieving employment equity in an employer’s workforce. Department of Employment and Labour’s Employment Equity (EE) Directorate Director, Dr Ntsoaki Mamashela said following the enactment of EE amendments of 2022, which require employers to set five-year targets designated employers must be thorough in development and implementation of their EE transformation targets. Dr Mamashela was delivering a presentation on key highlights of the 2026 Commission for Employment Equity (CEE) on issues of transformation in the workplaces. This was during the joint Department of Employment and Labour, CEE, and Commission for Employment Equity (CEE) advocacy on equity in workplaces held today (4 August 2026) at Coastlands Hotel in uMhlanga, the residential, commercial and resort town north of Durban. According to the department designated employers (those employing more than fifty employees) are encouraged to apply for their Employment Equity Compliance Certificate immediately after submitting their Employment Equity Report. However, Dr Mamashela cautioned that it will not be easy to get the certificate. She said the department will be thorough in its assessments of reports. She said there were still employers submitting invalid reports and doing the copy and paste. According to Section 20 of EE Act designated employers are required to develop an Employment Equity Plan. The EE Amendments of 2022 requires employers to develop their own set targets. The equity plan provides a template from which to achieve reasonable progress towards employment equity in that employer’s workforce. The objectives need to be achieved for each year of the plan. The achievement or compliance to achievement of sector-specific numerical targets are also tied to access to State contracts. For media inquiries, please contact: Teboho Thejane Departmental Spokesperson 082 697 0694 teboho.thejane@labour.gov.za ‘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.gov.za/news/media-statements/employment-and-labour-2026-reporting-period

Siyabonga Goni | 29 July 2026 While tertiary students across South Africa demand an increase in food allowances and an accommodation cap, the upper echelon of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) appears to be operating on a vastly different budget, including eyebrow-raising spending on hotels. Daily Maverick has obtained a trail of invoices revealing how NSFAS splashed public funds on hotel stays for Administrator Hlengani Mathebula. The most damning evidence of blatant financial negligence lies in an outright “double-booking” of two hotels during the final week of May 2026, and a stay at an estate. Double-booking hotels and fruitless expenditure According to official tax invoices, taxpayers paid R9,200 for Mathebula to stay at the Pepperclub Hotel & Spa for four nights from 25 to 29 May. On the same dates, a separate invoice reveals that NSFAS simultaneously paid R14,850 for Mathebula to occupy a luxury suite at The Westin Cape Town from 25-28 May. For three consecutive nights, public funds were burnt to secure two separate five-star hotel rooms in the same city under a single individual’s name. Responding to Daily Maverick questions on the reasons behind the double booking, NSFAS technical adviser Khulani Qoma told Daily Maverick to attribute the response to spokesperson Ishmael Mnisi, who said that all travel and accommodation were carefully considered and reasonably priced. “On the Tourvest tax matter, Professor Hlengani Mathebula stayed at The Westin Cape Town for the duration of his stay, but a prior booking had been made with the Pepperclub Hotel. However, an unsuccessful attempt to cancel the booking was made due to health reasons. What further compounded the matter was the fact that this coincided with the budget vote debates when hotels were oversubscribed, leaving NSFAS with limited booking options,” Mnisi attempted to explain. Mnisi could not elaborate on whose health condition led to the cancellation of the Pepperclub Hotel. Treasury’s National Travel Policy Framework establishes minimum norms and standards for public sector officials travelling on official business in SA. Section 15.2 – no-shows and cancellations of the policy – says that if a traveller fails to cancel a booking in time, it is officially classified as Fruitless and Wasteful Expenditure. Section 15.2.4 says: “The Traveller will be responsible for any fruitless expenditure incurred due to a no-show or late cancellation where it was in his/her ability to cancel... The Institution must recover the amount from the Traveller.” NSFAS’ provision of travel management services also states: “Cancellation of accommodation bookings must be done promptly to guard against no-show and late cancellation fees.” When asked whether Mathebula would be held personally liable, Mnisi said responsibility lay elsewhere. “This double-booking error is therefore not personally attributable to him. It came as a shock to him when this was raised by Daily Maverick, which contradicted the assurance he received when the matter came to his attention previously,” said Mnisi. Following the stay at Westin, a new reservation was again made at the same Hotel between 7 and 12 June. In mid-June, from 13 June until 1 August, NSFAS forked out R86,811.67 to book Mathebula into the Advertentia Real Estate Holiday Apartments to stay in Cape Town for a 49-night stay. Mnisi said: “Following our internal verifications, NSFAS can state that Mathebula didn’t incur additional hotel accommodation costs in the immediate days following the Advertentia booking in Cape Town.” NSFAS did not respond to the question of why it booked the estate. Instead it said Mathebula was being unfairly painted as spending state resources irrationally. “His administration is the leanest by people and spend,” said Mnisi. R10-million spent on advisers Mathebula has also raised eyebrow by appointing four advisers at a salary of nearly R10-million. Daily Maverick asked for justification of the appointment of advisers Nonkululeko Manyika, Khulani Qoma, Dudu Hlatshwayo and Madala Mthembu, who cumulatively make up an annual salary of close to R10-million. Mnisi said: “Mathebula didn’t walk in with his advisers from day one. He spent a month alone, making dispassionate assessments of the needs. He later appointed his advisers incrementally across the period, ending up with a total of four advisers, who possess skills ranging from financial management, strategy, legal, governance to corporate affairs and stakeholder relations.” Students struggling The spending comes as NSFAS-funded students continue to argue that current allowances no longer meet the cost of living. University of Johannesburg second-year student Simamkele Qoyi says the money is insufficient. “I divide the allowance, with the R1,550 being for food and the rest for toiletries. Sometimes I sacrifice from my savings in order to buy all my toiletries as the money was finished by food – for example, meat. Sometimes with the money I help at home and also buy large quantities of food to last the whole month… I do wish for an increase, because an increase could benefit us as students as then we would be able to buy enough groceries to sustain us for the whole month,” said Qoyi. Another student, from the University of the Western Cape who asked to remain anonymous, said it was enough for her. “It is enough to cover essential items because I mainly use it for groceries and toiletries, which is what the allowance is intended for; however, some students rely entirely on this allowance to cover everything, including personal care, clothes and sometimes even helping their families; for those students, R1,716 is often not enough,” she said. On hearing of the administrator’s spending, she said: “Hearing that such a large amount was spent on luxury travel raises concerns about priorities. Those funds could have been used to improve student support or other important services.” The spokesperson of the South African Union of Students (Saus), Dr Thato Masekoa, said the students were living under harsh conditions. “Saus believes that the current living allowance of R1,716 per month is grossly inadequate and no longer reflects the economic realities faced by students… Many students skip meals, experience chronic food insecurity, walk long distances because they cannot afford transport, borrow money to meet basic needs, or sacrifice essential academic materials simply to eat,” said Masekoa. On the travel expenditure, he added: “If confirmed, such expenditure represents a deeply troubling contradiction between the hardships experienced by students and the stewardship of public resources intended to support them.” Daily Maverick questioned NSFAS on plans to increase student allowances. Mnisi said: “NSFAS is disinclined to answer your latter questions presently.” Economic development and transformation adviser Duma Gqubule told Daily Maverick that the “chaos” at NSFAS needed to be probed, and that the allowance needed to keep up with inflation. “It has to keep up with inflation… We must set the allowances higher. We’ve been seeing in the media the stories of children without accommodation, sleeping in libraries, people in desperate situations. When I talk to people who are lecturers, they tell me about these situations, that the students are in a desperate situation,” said Gqubule. EFF demands accountability The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have since called for an investigation into Mathebula’s actions. Speaking to Daily Maverick, the EFF’s Sihle Lonzi said the administrator was living lavishly, and also noted that the National Treasury had yet to approve the remuneration of the NSFAS administrator. “It’s a vote of no confidence in what (Minister of Higher Education) Buti Manamela is trying to do at NSFAS, because the finance minister would have long approved. They are just employing each other, spending money of the government that is meant to serve the student,” said Lonzi. He added that they would aim to bring Mathebula and Manamela before the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education to explain NSFAS’ issues and clarify whether accommodation middlemen had been eliminated. Lonzi heavily criticised the appointments of the four advisers, writing to committee chairperson Tebogo Letsie to demand an investigation into the administrator and his advisers’ remuneration. On Tuesday, News24 reported that Minister of Finance, Enoch Godongwana, had rejected the annual salary package of R5.5-million for Mathebula. This comes after the National Treasury told Daily Maverick that it has received a request seeking the concurrence of Godongwana regarding the remuneration of the administrator in terms of section 17C of the NSFAS Act. “It is currently being considered, and when a response has been finalised the minister will inform the minister of higher education of his decision. It is worth noting that although the letter is dated 17 June, the minister of finance only received it on 4 July,” said the National Treasury. It added: “Spending by NSFAS on this and all other matters is governed by the Public Finance Management Act and the entity’s policies and prescripts on spending. In this regard, the Department of Higher Education and NSFAS will have their own travel policies governing accommodation, travel costs, etc. Any expenditure on this must be aligned to their policy. If it isn’t, it may then be considered irregular expenditure.” Daily Maverick also sent questions to Department of Higher Education and Training spokesperson Matshepo Seedat, who referred the publication to a statement dated 14 July 2026, in which Manamela defended the spending by Mathebula on the advisers, saying that Mathebula had adopted a lean technical support model comprising four specialist advisers appointed to support him. “The technical support structure utilised during a previous NSFAS administration amounted to approximately R16.5-million per annum; an earlier administration incurred technical support costs of approximately R19.6-million per annum; and the remuneration associated with the former NSFAS board and its committee structures during the 2025/26 period amounted to approximately R31-million,” said Seedat. DM ‘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.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-07-29-double-booked-hotels-a-luxury-49-night-estate-stay-inside-nsfas-boss-mathebulas-r110000-plus-spending-spree/?dm_source=blocks-grid-wide&dm_medium=card-link&dm_campaign=inform&dm_position=1&utm_campaign=Post-2520&utm_medium=email&utm_source=first-thing

Shaun Jacobs | 27 July 2026 The new Transformation Fund is effectively another tax the private sector will have to pay for the privilege of operating their businesses in South Africa. Under the new fund, money that would have been allocated by companies to supplier and enterprise development will instead flow to the state. The government will then manage the fund and allocate capital towards businesses that meet its criteria and drive the transformation of the economy. The Institute of Race Relations’ head of policy research, Anthea Jeffery, explained that this is another example of the state trying to centralise power in South Africa. Jeffery told the Free Market Foundation that instead of the state leaving private companies to allocate capital as they wish, it wants to exercise authority over what is done with the money. The Transformation Fund was first announced by Minister of Trade, Industry, and Competition Parks Tau in January 2025. It is designed to pool and redirect funding from big corporates and businesses to small, black-owned enterprises and entrepreneurs. This aims to level the playing field in the economy by giving black-owned businesses a leg up through funding from the government. President Ramaphosa said the government will use the fund and all policy levers to deconcentrate ownership in the economy. “There is both a constitutional and economic imperative to correct the skewed patterns of ownership, control, and participation in the economy,” Ramaphosa said. “The fund aims to improve access to funding for majority black-owned and controlled enterprises, and support them to participate in value chains across key sectors of the economy.” Tau has explained how the fund will work and how his department plans to fund it amid widespread criticism from both defenders and critics of Black Economic Empowerment (BEE). The fund will be an independent entity under the Department of Trade, Industry, and Competition. It will be run through partnerships with public- and private-sector stakeholders. Partnering with financial institutions, the fund will have a digital portal for real-time investment monitoring to ensure the funds are not misused. Tau also claimed the system will monitor job creation and impact metrics to ensure it drives the outcomes the government desires. R100 billion power grab A major question surrounding the fund is how it will be capitalised, with Tau saying it will allocate R100 billion to black businesses over the first five years of operation. This amounts to R20 billion a year, or R55 million per day. This is an extraordinary amount of money to be allocated. For comparison, the established Industrial and Development Corporation disbursed R16.3 billion in its previous financial year. Only R2.6 billion of this went to small businesses in that period. Jeffery explained that the draft regulations for the fund indicate that it will be capitalised through existing supplier and enterprise development funds. Instead of private companies allocating this money themselves to earn BEE points, they will be able to pay into the fund for an equivalent amount of points or even more. “This now has a particular bearing on the private sector and how it copes with BEE. Under the existing codes, companies put money into supplier and enterprise development,” Jeffery said. “They are, in effect, helping to grow small businesses and incubate them. Some of them are in the supply chains of big corporates and others are in the broader economy.” “What the government wants to do is impose a state-controlled fund into which money, which business currently has the choice of what to do with, will go to the government.” The draft regulations show that businesses will be encouraged to contribute to the fund rather than to their own supplier and enterprise development. Webber Wentzel’s experts explained that businesses could even score more 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. “The money, according to the state, should rather go into the Transformation Fund and the government will decide on its deployment,” Jeffery said. “At the same time, businesses are coming under pressure to buy from 51% black-owned firms. There are not that many businesses that fit this requirement.” Now, corporates will be encouraged to do business with 100% black-owned firms, of which there are even fewer. The government will also be hard-pressed to find enough of these companies to allocate the R100 billion Transformation Fund to. ‘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/finance/145446/new-bee-tax-to-pay-black-owned-businesses-r55-million-every-day-for-5-years/

Tshwarelo eseng Mogakane | 26 July 2026 Rametsi claims house was part of the deal he had with Cornish. Soured business relations between former ANC councillor Johny Rametsi and his former partners Gordon and Lorna Cornish have left Rametsi and his family destitute. The former councillor and mayoral committee member in the Matlosana and Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipalities has been evicted from his home in Klerksdorp after the North West High Court determined that he was not the rightful owner of the La Hoff property. In his answering affidavit, Rametsi told the court that the residential property formed part of a wider commercial arrangement linked to Prothane Industrial, a polyurethane manufacturing business he once co-owned with the couple. But the court found that ownership of the house was never legally passed to him because there was no written deed of alienation and no registered transfer in the deeds office. According to Rametsi, Cornish approached him in 2008 and offered him a 51% interest in Prothane Industrial because the company needed to be BEE compliant to secure funding. “The first applicant approached me and offered me 51% ownership in his close corporation, Prothane Industrial. My majority ownership secured the funding,” Rametsi states in the affidavit. An official Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) document attached to the affidavit records Rametsi as holding a 51% member’s interest in Prothane Industrial from April 3, 2008, with Cornish holding the remaining 49%. The same CIPC document lists Rametsi’s residential address as the disputed La Hoff property. Rametsi further alleges that there was an agreement that the residence would eventually become his. He says he also received a company vehicle, payment of his children’s school fees, and a monthly allowance. He claims he generated about R5-million worth of business for the company through what he describes as “sweat equity”, and that attorneys had already begun transferring the property into his name before the relationship deteriorated. However, Cornish’s version, contained in court papers, differs sharply. He did not dispute that Prothane required a BEE-compliant structure to access finance but said Rametsi was expected to acquire a substantial member’s interest as part of that commercial arrangement. Cornish argued that the broader transaction never materialised after Rametsi allegedly failed to obtain financing to purchase the member’s interest. He said this brought the arrangement to an end and extinguished any rights Rametsi had to remain on the property. The High Court found that whatever business arrangement existed between the parties could not override South African property law. Judge André Petersen held that ownership of immovable property can pass only through a valid written agreement and registration in the Deeds Office. Hence, the court found that Rametsi was occupying the residence unlawfully and ordered him to vacate it. The former councillor’s family was removed from the property in Klerksdorp on June 15. In 2015, Prothane Industrial was selected as one of the inaugural Top 40 National Gazelles, a flagship programme launched by the Department of Small Business Development and the Small Enterprise Development Agency to identify and support South Africa’s fastest-growing small and medium enterprises. The company was listed among the country’s standout manufacturing businesses at the programme’s launch. But the relationship behind that success would eventually unravel. Company newsletters from Prothane’s earlier years introduced Cornish as the company’s co-owner and Rametsi as its partner, with the two jointly addressing staff under the heading “Message from the Owners”. Sunday World established that Prothane Industrial has since been sold to new owners. Cornish has since relocated to Mozambique, where he is involved in farming activities. Rametsi told the Sunday World that neighbours had taken him and his family in after their eviction. “My Samaritan neighbours took me in. I have now even overstayed. I feel betrayed. Those I trusted with my hard labour and black skin to push the business to success have left me down and out.” ‘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/news/failed-bee-deal-forces-former-anc-councillor-out-of-home/

Schalk Burger | 27 July 2026 With smarter localisation, clearer procurement rules and a more deliberate industrial strategy, public spending could again become a powerful engine for rebuilding factories, expand supply chains and restore confidence in South Africa as a manufacturing country, public and private professionals say. Localisation is not about closing the economy, but about using the State’s buying power to build a stronger, more competitive manufacturing base that can serve domestic and export markets, says electromechanical equipment manufacturer ACTOM Group CEO Mervyn Naidoo. South Africa does not lack industrial capability; it lacks a procurement system designed to nurture and expand it. With clear rules, long‑term visibility and firm designation, public spending can again become a catalyst for investment, job creation and industrial renewal, he says. “The problem is not a lack of opportunity, but a lack of coherence. Public procurement is too often fragmented and inconsistent, and contracts are awarded for short periods, with no guarantee of continuity or commitment to local industry. “Nobody is going to invest in long‑term capacity, automation or technology upgrades when demand is uncertain. The result is predictable, as imports fill the gap, local factories sit underutilised, and the country loses skills, tax revenue and jobs,” he says. State-owned Eskom’s Transmission Development Plan is an example of long‑term visibility already in place. With a 15- to 20‑year pipeline of grid infrastructure ahead, South Africa has a rare opportunity to use this demand to rebuild domestic manufacturing. If government paired this pipeline with firm local‑content rules, long‑horizon contracts and sector designation, companies would have the confidence to invest in new plants, expand capacity and train workers, Naidoo emphasises. Localisation is a policy tool used worldwide to secure industrial capabilities, adds Department of Trade, Industry and Competition acting deputy director-general Dr Tebogo Makube. However, South Africa’s challenge is that the current procurement framework places overwhelming weight on price. Under the 80%:20% and 90%:10% systems, price accounts for up to 90% of the evaluation. “This makes it extremely difficult for local manufacturers, who face higher electricity tariffs, unreliable municipal services and rising logistics costs, to compete against imports from countries with lower input costs or State‑supported industries,” he says. Further, localisation must apply across procurement methods. Whether a project is delivered through engineering, procurement and construction contractors, public‑private partnerships or direct departmental procurement, if public money is being spent, local content rules should apply. This clarity is essential to prevent loopholes that allow imported products to bypass designation, he says. The Preferential Procurement Act of 2024 aims to rebalance this. Once regulations are finalised, designated products will again require minimum local‑content thresholds as a first‑stage evaluation criterion. Bids that do not meet these requirements will not proceed to price evaluation, says Makube. Meanwhile, the metals and engineering value chain relies heavily on public procurement, with about one-quarter of domestic sales stemming from the public sector. This figure can exceed 60% in some subsectors, industry organisation Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa CEO Tafadzwa Chibanguza points out. When procurement is inconsistent, the entire ecosystem suffers. Localisation is not a barrier to global competitiveness, but a prerequisite for it. Many of South Africa's manufacturers are operating at 50% to 70% capacity, with fixed costs spread across too few orders, he adds. “When public procurement lifts utilisation, companies can reduce per‑unit costs, improve efficiency and become more competitive internationally. Localisation is a platform for export readiness, and not a retreat from global markets,” he says. Additionally, the multiplier effects are often ignored in procurement decisions. A locally manufactured transformer supports upstream steel and copper producers, downstream fabricators, logistics providers, engineers and service centres. These economic linkages exceed the value of the final product and are lost entirely when imports replace local production, says Chibanguza. South Africa’s manufacturing sector has become largely stagnant, with years of factory closures, shrinking order books, rising input costs and erratic demand hollowing out industrial capacity that once anchored hundreds of thousands of jobs, the organisations say. Rewriting the rules of procurement is a strategic choice about the kind of economy South Africa wants to build, namely one where factories are busy, skills are deepened, and public money works harder for long‑term growth, they state. ‘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.engineeringnews.co.za/article/better-procurement-strategy-can-expand-south-africas-industrial-base-2026-07-20

Merel van der Lei | 13 July 2026 On a packaging line outside Pietermaritzburg, an operator slightly adjusts a machine because the packaging film is running tacky, preventing a batch from jamming. Two bays down, a setter finishes a die changeover in a third of the manual's estimated time because she knows the most efficient sequence by memory. Neither holds a formal certificate for what they just did. Yet, both made the difference between a shift hitting its production targets and failing. Walk any production line in the country and you find the same thing: skill that is real, hard-won and applied by the hour, and almost entirely invisible to the way South Africa measures its industrial workforce development. And that blind spot has become expensive. In August 2025, the Bureau for Economic Research reviewed the SETA system. They found that once you exclude the short, low-complexity courses that inflate headline numbers, certifying a single artisan through substantive routes – like learnerships and artisanal programmes – costs R388,052. That is more than it costs to produce a university graduate, at R370,923. We pay a premium price for the paperwork, and still, on the BER's own manufacturing survey, around half of manufacturers name the shortage of skilled labour as a serious constraint on their business. The rest of the picture is not much better. Over the review period, SETA revenue rose 46% in real terms while the number of certifications fell 23%. Output per SETA employee dropped from 92 certifications a year to 35. Against the target implied by the National Skills Development Plan – roughly a tenth of the workforce trained each year – the system delivers between 4% and 6,6%. More money, fewer results, and a scoreboard that counts who enrolled rather than the competence already standing on the floor. Riaz Moola, who runs the training provider HyperionDev, put the diagnosis plainly in May: South Africa has "a growing outcomes problem". Success in skills development, he argued, has for a long time been measured by how many people entered a programme rather than by what came of it. His world is digital talent, not toolmakers, but the flaw travels, and it is at its sharpest on a factory floor. When the sector gathers at the Manufacturing Indaba in Sandton on 14 and 15 July, under the banner "Made in Africa: Scaling Growth, Shaping Trade", the artisan shortage will be a recurring topic. The instinct will be to call for more training, more enrolments, more throughput and more funding. That instinct mistakes a measurement failure for a volume one. You cannot scale production that you cannot staff, and you will not staff it from a system that grows more expensive and less productive every year. The certificate was never built to capture what keeps a line running. A qualification signed off in a classroom months ago says little about whether an operator can read the quirks of the specific machine in front of them today. That knowledge is built in the flow of the work, shift after shift, and is the very thing manufacturers are short of. They have no shortage of people who have sat through training. What they lack is a way to see, prove and build on the competence their employees already demonstrate. The stakes climb as the sector itself contracts. Manufacturing was the single biggest drag on GDP in the final quarter of 2025 and shrank again in the first quarter of 2026, a second consecutive decline, even as the wider economy recorded its strongest (albeit from a low base) year since 2022. An industry under that kind of pressure cannot afford to pay a premium for certificates while the skill it actually needs goes unrecognised and underleveraged. None of this argues for scrapping qualifications, which still matter a lot for a worker's mobility beyond any single employer. The correction is to stop treating the certificate as the finish line and to start recognising competence continuously, in the place where it is used. Frontline systems already make that practical. When bite-sized training reaches an operator on the same phone that carries their roster and their payslip, learning becomes part of the working week rather than an annual or tedious event. When an employee logs a fault, records a fix or signs off a safety check on that device, the entry does two jobs at once. It stands as proof for an audit, but it also builds a live map of who can do what, and where a gap is opening before it stops a line. That gives leadership something a drawer of certificates never could: a current read and insights on capability across a workforce spread over many sites. Which competencies are strong? Which are thinning as experienced hands near retirement? Which need attention this month rather than next year? The thing is that digitising workforces working with their hands is not seen as part of the skills development dialogue. This approach is also a matter of fairness in a country where 60,9% of young people aged 15 to 24 are unemployed. A young worker who can prove competence through their daily output, rather than relying solely on a certificate they may have struggled to access, gains a clearer route to recognition and promotion. Measuring skill where it happens rewards what people can already do – precisely what a labour market starved of artisans, yet crowded with excluded youth, needs. South Africa does not need to spend more to build industrial skills. We need to stop mistaking attendance for ability and look at the factory floor. The artisans the sector says it cannot find are, in many cases, already clocked in. What has been missing is a system able to see them, recognise them, and leverage them as the foundation of the next generation of skilled artisans we need. Time is running out, though. This opportunity exists only as long as organisations can keep these skilled individuals on the payroll before economic contractions or retirement intervene. It is a race we can still win – and without spending billions more. Merel van der Lei is the CEO of Wyzetalk ‘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/business-report/companies/2026-07-13-rethinking-qualifications-the-hidden-talents-on-south-africas-factory-floors/

Malcolm Libera | 9 July 2026 A legal battle is brewing over the government’s plan to grant special protected status to the upcoming Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry 2026 Tour. The tour will see South Africa’s Springboks take on New Zealand’s All Blacks between August and September this year. The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) recently published a notice proposing that the tour be declared a protected event under Section 15A of the Merchandise Marks Act of 1941. If approved, the designation would give organisers additional legal protection against the unauthorised use of event-related branding, logos, slogans and trademarks associated with the Springboks, All Blacks and the tour itself. The protection would cover a wide range of names and visual marks, helping organisers combat counterfeit merchandise and unauthorised commercial activity linked to the event. However, the proposed declaration comes with a number of conditions that have sparked criticism from trade union Solidarity. The union argued that the government wants to impose procurement and Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) requirements on what is essentially a private sporting event. Under the notice, the South African Rugby Union (SARU), as the organiser, would be required to align its procurement processes with constitutional procurement principles, including fairness, equity, transparency and competitiveness. The organisation would also have to comply with the Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act and apply the DTIC’s B-BBEE codes of good practice when evaluating suppliers. In practical terms, this means a supplier’s B-BBEE status must be considered alongside price and other factors when contracts for the tour are awarded. The notice also requires organisers to support South African businesses, particularly those from previously disadvantaged communities. They will also have to submit an impact assessment report to the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition between six and twelve months after the event concludes. The report would need to outline the tour’s economic and social impact and demonstrate how opportunities were created for local and disadvantaged businesses. Opens the door to greater state control Supporters of the approach argue that the conditions ensure that major events deliver broader economic benefits and create opportunities for historically disadvantaged enterprises. However, Solidarity has strongly opposed the proposal and has indicated that its legal team is already preparing submissions against the regulations. According to Theuns du Buisson, economic researcher at the Solidarity Research Institute (SRI), the government should not use the protected-event designation to enforce procurement policies on independent event organisers. “Our biggest concern is the attempt to impose BEE regulations and procurement requirements on the organisers of the All Black tour,” he said. “Solidarity is already challenging the Public Procurement Act in court. Imposing these requirements on independent events while the Act is still being challenged makes no sense.” He argued that the proposal could interfere with existing commercial arrangements and create uncertainty for businesses that have already entered into contracts related to the tour. “Where does this decision leave businesses that have already signed contracts for supporter jerseys, marketing and other products?” he asked. Du Buisson further warned that the requirements could have significant consequences if applied strictly. “If the law is applied to its fullest extent, only 100% black-owned businesses may have the right to manufacture or sell Springbok supporter jerseys. Such an outcome is simply absurd.” Solidarity also believes the proposal could establish a precedent that extends government influence over private events beyond rugby. “Once a minister can declare anything to be in the ‘public interest’ and subsequently subject it to state procurement requirements, there is virtually no limit to state interference,” Du Buisson said. The organisation has also raised concerns about the administrative burden imposed by the reporting and compliance requirements associated with protected-event status. “Mandatory impact reports to the minister and other regulatory requirements increase the cost of hosting major events. South Africa should encourage international sporting and cultural events, not deter them through excessive state control,” he said. The proposal is open for public comment, with interested parties given 15 days from publication of the notice to submit feedback. The notice, in its entirety, along with the protected marks and terms, can be viewed below. ‘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/865928/war-brewing-over-plan-to-impose-bee-laws-on-springboks-vs-all-blacks-tour/

SA News | 9 July 2026 Fifty years after the class of 1976 relied strictly on courage and dreams to confront the apartheid regime, government is challenging today’s youth to adopt a new generational mission to leverage State-backed digital platforms and funding networks to achieve financial liberation. Speaking during a Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) webinar on government opportunities for youth, Deputy Government Spokesperson William Baloyi emphasised that while the fundamental resilience of South African youth remains unchanged, the tools available to them have evolved dramatically. “The generation of 1976 had a mission, and the mission was to fight the unjust system of education. Today’s youth, I think, also have to have a generational mission. “Today’s youth have platforms, opportunities, and other avenues that the government has provided. Today’s youth… have vehicles that they can use, but they should carry with them that courage and those dreams,” he said. Those vehicles available to youth include, among others: The Presidential Youth Employment Intervention. The National Youth Development Agency. The sayouth.mobi site. The National Youth Service. The National Youth Empowerment Fund. “Government remains committed to expanding access to skills development, employment opportunities, entrepreneurship support and funding so that more young people can participate meaningfully in the economy. “Our policy and our priority, still remains as government, to ensure that the young people are not only encouraged to seek opportunities, but are actively connected to practical pathways that lead to earning. “We want the youth not only to be job seekers, but to be job creators,” Baloyi stated. Furthermore, the young people were reminded to remain vigilant against modern digital threats. While platforms like the zero-rated sayouth.mobi offer free access to verified job and training networks, social media has also given rise to human-trafficking and job scam lures that have trapped desperate citizens abroad. “They promise them good jobs... They have been led to get into the jobs, only to find that those are not the real jobs. Make sure that you are alive to misinformation and disinformation. No young person should be left behind,” Baloyi said. South Africa recently observed Youth Month in June. It culminates in National Youth Day on June 16, which commemorates the historic 1976 Soweto Uprising against apartheid education policies. ‘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.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/south-african-youth-encouraged-become-job-creators

Myles Illidge } 29 June 2026 Through the Telkom Foundation’s RT15 ICT Skills Learnership Programme, Telkom has invested over R85 million to train more than 1,100 learners. The telecoms giant announced that over 150 learners have graduated from the programme and have secured accredited qualifications and practical experience that opened doors in the working world. Moreover, 22 learners from the latest cohort have secured permanent or temporary employment, while two have pursued further studies and one has launched a business. “The certification marks a significant milestone for the cohort, who have completed industry-relevant training designed to prepare them for participation in South Africa’s growing digital economy,” it said. It explained that the programme, run in collaboration with Telkom Consumer, formed part of a five-year Supplier Development and Localisation initiative with the National Treasury. Each year, the programme recruits 210 unemployed youth from across the country and equips them with NQF Level 4 and 5 qualifications. These are in various fields, including marketing, telecommunications networks, systems development, and business analysis. All qualifications are certified by the Media, Information and Communication Technologies Sector Education and Training Authority (MICT SETA). The Telkom Foundation highlighted that the youth unemployment crisis in South Africa remains one of the country’s most pressing challenges. Citing the first quarter 2026 Labour Force Survey, it said that unemployment among people aged between 15 and 34 had reached 45.8%. Furthermore, the unemployment figure among people aged between 15 and 24 in South Africa was just under 61%. “A mismatch between education outcomes and labour market needs, limited work experience, and slow economic growth continue to drive these figures,” it said. Head of the Telkom Foundation, Judy Vilakazi, said the private sector needed to create sustainable employment pathways for youth. “This begins with recognising that academic qualifications, structured business training, and workplace exposure are critical building blocks of an ecosystem that works,” she said. The Telkom Foundation said young South Africans in rural and township communities faced the greatest barriers to employment. It said these barriers included limited access to quality education, connectivity, transport, and mentorship, combined with few clear entry points into the economy. “The RT15 programme was designed to respond directly to these realities,” the Telkom Foundation stated. “Through partnerships with corporates and SMMEs, learners receive not only training and connectivity support, but also structured workplace exposure and pathways into economic participation.” ‘Disclaimer - The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://mybroadband.co.za/news/telecoms/656124-telkom-spends-r85-million-to-help-tackle-south-africas-unemployment-crisis.html

SA News | 1 July 2026 The South African labour market continues to reflect pronounced racial, gender and disability disparities, according to the Commission for Employment Equity (CEE) in its 26th Annual Report. The Commission for Employment Equity said the upper two decision-making occupational levels, namely top management and senior management, remain racialised and gendered, with the white and Indian population groups, and males, being dominant at these levels. Released under the tagline “Bridging the Equity Gap Through Diversity and Inclusion”, the report is based on analysis of Employment Equity (EE) data submitted by designated employers, those that employ 50 or more employees, in the 2025 EE reporting cycle. The CEE uses the Economically Active Population (EAP), as produced by Statistics South Africa, as a benchmark to assist employers in the analysis of their workforce to determine the degree of under or over-representation of designated groups and non-designated groups in the workforce. The EAP includes persons between the ages of 15 and 64 years who are either employed or unemployed but seeking employment. In terms of EAP, as per the report’s review, the African population group for both genders accounts for 81.3%, the Coloured population group for both genders accounts for 8.6%, the White population group accounts for 7.7%, and the Indian population group accounts for 2.4%. According to the CEE Annual Report, White population representation at 57.1% is approximately seven times their EAP, and Indian population representation at 12.2% is more than five times their EAP at top management level. In contrast, African population representation at 21.1% is approximately four times below their EAP, while Coloured population representation at 6.4% is slightly below their EAP at this occupational level. Foreign national representation stands at 3.1% at this occupational level. The CEE said male representation remains dominant at top management level, at more than two times female representation. It also shows that males are over-represented in terms of their EAP of 54.3%, while females are under-represented in terms of their EAP of 45.7% at this occupational level. The report further indicates that employees with disabilities remain low and account for only 2.5% of representation at top management level. “Notably, most designated groups, in particular, black women and persons with disabilities continue to be predominantly concentrated within the lower to middle management occupational levels of the workforce. Although there has been an encouraging increase in the representation of women in lower to middle management occupational levels, this upward movement has not yet translated into substantial gains at Senior Management and Top Management occupational levels,” the CEE said. The CEE is a statutory body mandated to advise the Minister of Employment and Labour on the development of Codes of Good Practice, regulatory matters, policy directions, and any issues arising from the implementation of the Act. The report said the persistently low representation of persons with disabilities, remaining slightly above 1% across all occupational levels of all economic sectors for decades, remains a significant concern. The Commission said, following the new landscape on the setting of sector targets, it urges employers to prioritise and adopt assertive strategies when developing and implementing their Employment Equity Plans (EE Plans). “Additionally, the high representation of Foreign Nationals across all occupational levels in the economy, particularly in the public universities, remains a concern and must be monitored vigilantly. In a country grappling with high unemployment rates, it is essential for South Africa to thoroughly review the legislative framework governing labour migration and take appropriate action where necessary,” cautioned the CEE. The 26th CEE Annual Report, which covers the period from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026, reflects on the key strategic objectives of the CEE, and the highlights of the CEE's activities and achievements during the period under review, guided by the strategic objectives formulated at the start of their five-year term of office in December 2020. In the 2025/26 period, some 15 090 reports were submitted, covering 6 896 041 employees. This reflects a decrease of 48.4% in reports received and a decrease of 10.4% in employees covered. The significant drop in the number of reports received, from 29 269 in 2024 to 15 090 in 2025, is largely due to the change in legislation that does not require small employers, mainly those with one to 49 employees, to submit reports anymore. The drop in employees covered, from 7 699 665 in 2024 to 6 896 041 in 2025, is insignificant because small employers accounted for few employees, at 803 624. For the period under review, the highest number of reports was received from the manufacturing sector, followed by the wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles, and agriculture, forestry and fishing sectors. At senior management level, White population group representation stands at 44.1%, which is approximately six times their EAP, while the representation of the Indian population group at 12.5% is approximately five times their EAP. The representation of the African population group at 31.5% is less than half their EAP at this level. The high representation of foreign nationals, at 3.3%, is noted at this occupational level. At professionally qualified level, Africans are the only population group that is below their EAP. The representation of foreign nationals at 2.2% is relatively high at this occupational level. The White and Indian population representation far exceeds their EAP in most sectors of the economy at professionally qualified level. At skilled level, Africans are the only population group that is under-represented in relation to their EAP. It also shows that the representation of foreign nationals is at 1.3% at this occupational level. The representation of females is above the EAP at skilled level, while employees with disabilities account for 1.2% of the total workforce at this occupational level. At semi-skilled level, Africans and Coloureds are over-represented. The White and Indian population groups are under-represented at this occupational level. The high representation of foreign nationals, at 1.7%, at this low occupational level remains a concern to the CEE. The report said the representation of Indians and Whites are the only population groups that are below their EAP at unskilled level. The CEE said, considering the high unemployment rate in South Africa, it is crucial that the representation of foreign nationals, at 3.2%, should be monitored and managed at this occupational level. The representation of Africans and Coloureds are the only population groups that are over-represented in both government and in the private sector at unskilled level. Despite set targets, the Commission revealed that the representation of employees with disabilities is at 1.3% of the total workforce in 2025. This is the first report after the operationalisation of the Employment Equity Amendment Act, No. 4 of 2022, and the introduction of the five-year sector EE targets, including the issuing of the EE Compliance Certificate. The Employment Equity Amendment Act, No. 4 of 2022, and the two sets of EE Regulations, 2025, became effective on 1 January 2025 and 15 April 2025, respectively. Reflecting on the status of litigation, the CEE said these cases primarily concern the constitutional validity, lawfulness and implementation of the amended EE legislative framework and the sectoral numerical targets. Some of the litigations have been filed by political parties, employers' organisations, civil movements and trade unions. “The CEE will continue to strive for diversity and inclusivity for all those persons previously disadvantaged in the workplace irrespective of the outcome of the litigation,” said outgoing CEE Chairperson Nicole Deokiram. Enquiries: Teboho Thejane Departmental Spokesperson Cell: 082 697 0694 E-mail: teboho.thejane@labour.gov.za ‘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.gov.za/news/media-statements/employment-and-labour-labour-market-structure-remaining-hierarchical-terms

Michael Taylor | 21 June 2026 The business group Sakeliga has warned that the South African National Roads Agency’s (SANRAL’s) new draft proposals will impose new broad black economic empowerment (BEE) requirements for petrol stations and other roadside businesses. These concerns relate to SANRAL’s Draft Policy for Rest and Service Facilities along National Roads, which Sakeliga says could unlawfully expand the agency’s powers over private businesses. The policy aims to regulate developments such as petrol stations, truck stops, restaurants, convenience stores, and future infrastructure linked to electric vehicles and alternative fuels. Sakeliga argued that SANRAL is attempting to use its authority over South Africa’s national roads to control businesses operating on private land. The group objected to the draft policy, saying that it would give SANRAL sweeping powers to dictate who can operate a business along a national road, setting transformation credential requirements, imposing levies, and mandating how the business must be structured. This would be the case even if the business operates on privately owned land and has no contractual relationship with SANRAL. According to Sakeliga, the agency is relying on sections of the SANRAL Act that were intended to regulate access to national roads for road safety and traffic purposes. The business group said that SANRAL is now trying to use these provisions to introduce much broader commercial and socio-economic regulations. “The road agency’s authority, as defined by the SANRAL Act, is restricted to the planning, financing, construction, operation, management, and maintenance of national roads,” Sakeliga said. “SANRAL is not an economic regulator, a licensing authority for private businesses, or empowered to impose transformation requirements on private landowners.” Sakeliga highlighted that the draft policy would require roadside businesses to comply with SANRAL’s own Transformation Policy. It argued that the policy was originally meant for companies contracted by SANRAL for road construction and maintenance. “The Draft Policy now requires private businesses on private land to comply with the same framework, even though they are not contracting with SANRAL, are not spending public money, and are not supplying any product or service to SANRAL,” it said. New barrier to access South Africa’s road network Sakeliga warned that this policy would effectively create a parallel BEE compliance regime for private businesses by making transformation requirements a condition for access to the national road network. The group argued that this could have severe economic consequences for South Africa, as it would create barriers to entry through centralised approvals and spacing rules. It would also reduce competition by protecting existing operators and raise costs through turnover-based levies of up to 10%. The policy could also discourage investment by creating regulatory uncertainty, discretionary approval processes, and short lease periods. “Private businesses operating on private land should not be required to surrender ownership, restructure their operations, or demonstrate transformation credentials to a roads agency,” Sakeliga said. The group stated it would challenge the policy if adopted in its current form or in any similar form. ‘Disclaimer - The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://topauto.co.za/news/156320/new-bee-laws-proposed-for-petrol-stations-on-south-africas-national-roads/

SA News | 11 June 2026 Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela has announced a series of transitional arrangements aimed at modernising South Africa's qualifications system, while ensuring continuity for learners, training providers and employers. Speaking at a media briefing in Pretoria on Thursday, Manamela said the implementation of the Directive on Transitional Arrangements for Pre-2009 Qualifications forms part of government's broader efforts to strengthen and future-proof the National Qualifications Framework (NQF). The directive, published on 3 June 2024 under the National Qualifications Framework Act (Act 67 of 2008), seeks to ensure an orderly transition towards a modernised qualifications framework; accelerate the development and implementation of occupational qualifications, and strengthen the responsiveness, quality and credibility of qualifications within the Post-School Education and Training system. It also aims to improve alignment between education, training and labour market needs, and reinforce accountability among Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs), quality councils and other implementing bodies. “The Directive established the policy framework for transitioning South Africa from pre-2009 qualifications towards a modern occupational qualifications system that better reflects workplace requirements, technological advancement and the evolving needs of our economy," Manamela said. He explained that the reform is intended to bridge the gap between classroom-based learning and practical workplace experience by introducing qualifications that place greater emphasis on hands-on training and work-integrated learning. Over 900 qualifications registered The Minister highlighted that significant progress has already been made since the Directive was issued. To date, 948 occupational qualifications and part-qualifications have been registered on the National Qualifications Framework. He said that of the 1 475 pre-2009 qualifications that had reached their registration end date, 630 were granted learner enrolment extensions, following consultation and engagement with stakeholders. “The remainder were deregistered owing to the absence of learner enrolment or their replacement by occupational qualifications. All affected qualifications allowed currently enrolled learners sufficient opportunity to complete their studies,” Manamela said. Differentiated approach to extension The Minister said government has adopted a differentiated approach to managing the transition, and they have been categorised to ensure that each is managed according to its level of readiness and its impact on learners and the skills development system. Category A refers to occupational qualifications that are already registered on the National Qualifications Framework. Because they are not pre-2009 "legacy" qualifications, they do not require gazetting or further enrolment extensions. “They will continue to be managed through the existing administrative processes of the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) and South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA), and learners and accredited Skills Development Providers may continue with approved enrolments and delivery,” the Minister said. Under Category B, which includes pre-2009 qualifications and National Accredited Technical Education Diploma (NATED) programmes, qualifying programmes will receive targeted extensions ranging from six months to 24 months, depending on factors such as learner impact, sector readiness, availability of replacement qualifications, and labour market requirements. Manamela emphasised that these extensions are not blanket measures, and each qualification has been assessed on its own merits. “The qualifications approved for extension will be included in the Government Gazette to be published on Monday, 15 June 2026, and the complete list of affected qualifications and their replacement occupational qualifications will also be published on the SAQA website, ensuring public accessibility and transparency,” the Minister said. Category C, which relates to regulatory unit standards that continue to underpin important statutory and industry programmes, has been granted extensions of up to three years to allow regulators and industries sufficient time to review programme requirements and transition to replacement occupational skills programmes. The Minister noted that this approach ensures continuity in regulated sectors, while protecting the public interest and avoiding disruption to economic activity. With respect to trades, which fall under Category C, the position differs depending on the availability of replacement occupational qualifications. “Where occupational qualifications have already been developed and implemented, no further extension is required. However, for trades where replacement occupational qualifications have not yet been fully developed or implemented, targeted transitional arrangements of approximately one year may be considered to ensure continuity, while development processes are finalised,” the Minister explained. The SAQA website will comprehensively indicate the qualifications that have received extensions; the applicable duration of each extension; the associated teach-out [an educational arrangement that allows current students to complete their qualifications or degrees, even if an institution closes, restructures or phases out older programs] arrangements where applicable, and corresponding occupational qualifications that will replace the affected pre-2009 qualifications. To improve implementation and oversight of the transition process, government has established a Technical Task Team mandated to identify and resolve implementation bottlenecks, monitor progress against clear timelines, and ensure that the transition proceeds in a structured and orderly manner. “It will bring together dedicated workstreams responsible for communications and advocacy; legal and regulatory matters; SETA coordination; data management; assessment to certification; quality assurance; TVET [Technical and Vocational Education Training] rollout of new qualifications; funding norms and standards, and monitoring and evaluation. “This integrated governance structure will strengthen accountability, improve coordination across institutions and ensure that implementation challenges are addressed proactively,” Manamela 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://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/government-announces-transitional-arrangements-advance-modern-occupational