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Polity | 16 November 2023 The Portfolio Committee on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities voted in favour of the motion on the desirability of the National Youth Development Agency Amendment (NYDAA) Bill and adopted the public participation input report on the Bill. Some committee members rejected the motion on the desirability of the Bill on the basis of a particular clause related to employment equity, which these Members were not in agreement with. Notwithstanding that, they indicated that due process was followed in dealing with the Bill. The NYDAA Bill was introduced to Parliament by the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities and referred to the Portfolio Committee on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities and the Joint Tagging Mechanism on 9 June 2022. The Bill seeks to amend the National Youth Development Agency Act, 2008 (Act No 54 of 2008) in order to insert new definitions; to amend the provisions relating to the objects of the agency; and to amend provisions relating to reporting by the agency. It also seeks to provide for organs of state to assist the agency; to provide for the governance responsibilities of the Board; to provide for additional Board members; to provide that a Board member may not be reappointed for more than two consecutive terms; and to provide that Board members must submit financial disclosures. In addition, the Bill seeks to amend matters pertaining to the meetings of the Board; to amend the funding of the agency; to authorise the Minister to make regulations; and to provide for matters connected therewith. The public participation process on the Bill began when the committee called for public submissions from 30 April 2023 until 6 June 2023. Twelve submissions were received by 6 June 2023 and two additional submissions were received after the closing date. Of the 14 written submissions received, the majority (85.7%) supported the Bill but indicated areas where provisions should be strengthened. The Department of Women, Youth and Peoples with Disabilities responded to the submissions made to the committee in November at which concerns raised were acknowledged and the Bill was amended accordingly. After due deliberation following the public participation process and based on all the input received and engagements on the NYDAA Bill, a motion of desirability on the subject matter was placed before the committee to vote on, as required by National Assembly Rule 286(4)(i). Eight committee members voted in favour of the motion on the desirability of the National Youth Development Agency Amendment Bill, while two members rejected it. The committee accordingly agreed that the Bill’s subject matter is desirable and should be further considered and processed by the committee. The committee will begin its clause-by-clause deliberation on the Bill on Tuesday, 21 November, during which the A- and B-list of the Bill will be presented. Issued by The Chairperson of The Portfolio Committee on Women. Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Nonhlanhla Ncube-Ndaba ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://www.polity.org.za/article/committee-on-women-youth-and-pesrons-with-disabilities-votes-in-favour-of-motion-on-desirability-of-nydaa-bill-2023-11-16

CBN | 16 November 2023 In celebration of South Africa’s innovators, start-ups and small businesses, Telkom, a leading technology company, recognised shining businesses that showed resilience, growth, and innovation, through FutureMakers, its flagship Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD) Programme. The occasion was graced by the presence of the Telkom Group EXCO and various Enterprise and Supplier Development Ecosystem role players. Addressing the audience, Mr. Serame Taukobong, Telkom Group Chief Executive Officer, emphasised the important role the entrepreneurs and their businesses play in creating much needed jobs, alleviating poverty, and solving other societal challenges through innovation. “I am speaking to you as businesspeople, CEOs, Founders and Entrepreneurs, and not ‘Small Businesses,” said Mr Taukobong. Speaking at the inaugural Telkom Transformation and Innovation Awards, Dr Mmaki Jantjies, Telkom’s Group Executive for the Innovation and Transformation Office, said it was it important to recognise and encourage tech upstarts and SMEs. “The idea is to reward entrepreneurs who are using digital technology to provide solutions to social challenges and building strong resilient businesses. It’s also about recognising entrepreneurs, innovators and technology ambassadors who inspire others in the sector,” Jantjies added. There were 16 companies that received awards. These exceptional achievers were drawn from a cohort of businesses who are using digital technology to provide solutions to social challenges and building strong resilient businesses. These are also entrepreneurs, innovators and technology ambassadors who inspire others in the sector and are part of the Telkom FutureMakers Programme. The aim of FutureMakers is to grow the digital economy by developing and investing in black-owned, high-growth enterprises that create jobs and other socio-economic benefits. This is done through: Investing in and incubating ICT businesses; Providing access to the market through Telkom’s supply chain; Working with youth and female-owned businesses; Promoting inclusive innovation; Promoting localisation. he Telkom Transformation and Innovation Awards, to be held annually, serves as a platform to showcase the exceptional achievements of, highlighting the profound impact of these initiatives on the local business ecosystem. The awards are divided into three segments, each dedicated to honouring different facets of innovation and transformation within Telkom and its extended ecosystem: Segment 1 Winners- Enterprise Development AI Innovation of the Year: Atrybute Graphic E-commerce Innovation of the Year: Credipple EdTech Innovation of the Year: Space Salad Studios FinTech Innovation of the Year: Horizontal Gravity HealthTech Innovation of the Year: EMG Technologies Segment 2 Winner – Supplier Development Top Performance Award: Corridor Africa Technologies Most Jobs Created: Kandua Resilience Award: SweepSouth Openserve – People’s Choice Awards: Multiplek Networks Consumer Small Business – People’s Choice Awards: Gcwensa Telecoms Gyro – People’s Choice Awards: Siphilasonke Development Group Segment 3 Winners – Telkom Transformation Ambassadors and Ecosystem Partners Tech Woman of the Year: Ambani Africa Tech for Good Award: Jobox Tech Trailblazer of the Year: Advannotech The event also honoured various Telkom staff members as Transformation Ambassadors including Strategic Ecosystem Partners who enable a strong support network for FutureMakers entrepreneurs and support them tap into resources, skills, facilities, and technologies they need to innovate and grow their businesses. “We need innovators and entrepreneurs, who constantly come up with new ideas. And we need government, which enables the environment for us to work together developing small business, supporting economic growth and job creation,” concluded Dr Jantjies. ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://www.cbn.co.za/industry-news/digital-transformation-information-technology/top-tech-smes-recognised-at-the-inaugural-telkom-transformation-and-innovation-awards/

Government | 15 November 2023 A two-year research study from Harvard’s Growth Lab has taken a deep dive into why South Africa has gone backwards over the last 15 years – and a collapsing state is a big part of the answer. The study was led by Ricardo Hausmann, professor of public development at Harvard, and former Venezuelan Minister of Planning, who saw his own home country collapse after a new government took over in 1993 and implemented various anti-growth policies and made many economic missteps. Hausmann’s career has been built around development diagnostics and assessing the reasons why certain countries fail to live up to their economic potential. The new report, titled “Growth Through Inclusion in South Africa”, worked to understand why South Africa is struggling so badly to grow its economy three decades after the fall of apartheid, and offers some potential paths forward. However, before working to resolve a problem, it first needs to be diagnosed. “It is painfully clear that South Africa is performing poorly, exacerbating problems such as inequality and exclusion,” the researchers said. The study highlighted key problems holding South Africa back: The economy’s ability to create jobs is slowing, worsening South Africa’s extreme levels of unemployment and inequality. South Africans are deeply disappointed with social progress and dislike the direction where the country seems to be heading. Despite its enviable productive capabilities, the national economy is losing international competitiveness. As the economy staggers, South Africa faces deteriorating social indicators and declining levels of public satisfaction with the status quo. The underlying capabilities to achieve sustained growth by leveraging the full capability of its people, companies, assets, and know-how remain underutilized. “After 15 years, attempts to stimulate the economy through fiscal policy and to address exclusion through social grants have failed to achieve their goals. “Instead, they have sacrificed the country’s investment grade, increasing the cost of capital to the whole economy, with little social progress to show for it,” the researchers said. “Three decades after the end of apartheid, the economy is defined by stagnation and exclusion, and current strategies are not achieving inclusion and empowerment in practice.” The big question, then – is why? State collapse The study identified two key problems with South Africa, driving this stagnation and deterioration: a collapsing state and spacial exclusion. Over the last 15 years, South Africa has seen a broad-based state collapse across critical public goods and services, the researchers said. There has been a deterioration in the provision of electricity, freight rail, ports, roads, water, and passenger rail. At a local government level, municipalities have been given big budgets and even bigger responsibilities but are largely ill-equipped to actually perform their duties. The paper argues that the collapse in state capacity can be traced to recurring issues of gridlock, ideology, overburdening of public organizations, and political patronage. Gridlock within the legislative process and leadership of government has prevented critical decisions from being made in time to address system breakdowns. This has happened repeatedly in both electricity and rail. Ideology has prevented the full capabilities of society from contributing to address supply needs, for example, by limiting private, provincial, and municipal power generation or devolution of the management of urban passenger rail to capable city governments. Things have been made worse by a mistaken belief that preferential procurement rules could be imposed on complex organizations, such as the network industries, at little cost. Rather, these rules have overburdened critical public organizations by adding financial costs, reducing effectiveness, and expanding space for patronage systems to take hold. Political patronage has been a widespread problem, as well documented by South Africa’s Judicial Commission of Inquiry into allegations of State Capture, Corruption and Fraud in the Public Sector including Organs of State, better known as the Zondo Commission. “While it can be easy to place the blame of state collapse on corruption and patronage, this would overlook the direct ways that gridlock, ideology, and overburdening have contributed to struggling and failing public systems,” the researchers said. “Overall, these causes have resulted in a continued loss of technical capacity and competent management across public organizations, making capacity loss harder to overcome.” These failings of the state bleed into all sectors of society, and attempts to counteract them have largely failed. Because the state cannot run effectively and takes ideological and legislative pathways that block growth, it has attempted to uplift the disenfranchised through social transfers. However, the researchers said that these transfers are more about redistribution than inclusion – “palliative, rather than curative”. “They merely compensate people and companies for their exclusion, rather than include them in the productive economy. They do not create the basis to increase sustainable employment in South Africa,” the researchers said. How to fix it There is no simple fix for South Africa’s problems; however, if the country is to arrest the collapse of the state, it needs to urgently start building state capacity. This would entail completely rethinking policies like preferential procurement and decentralisation. “Instead of helping to address spatial inequalities, the current system has exacerbated them,” the researchers said. Instead of splitting resources and sending them off to be devoured by the black hole of local government, they would be better distributed towards strategies that tackle the cause of state collapse, rather than its symptoms. Broadly, the researchers suggest tackling the problem in three key ways: Unburdening capacity – by relaxing the secondary and tertiary goals that have been layered onto state companies and public entities; locally and nationally. Build up and protect capacity – by getting rid of cadre deployment and transition to merit-based systems of employment. This will build a system that attracts and retains talent over time. Leverage existing capacity – by pulling in society at large to help fix struggling systems, especially in network industries. Positively, in some respects, the government is moving towards meeting at least some of these goals. In the midst of the ongoing energy and logistics crisis, the state has reached out to the private sector for assistance in rebuilding key networks. With a few policy moves, the government is also working towards professionalising the public service – while the courts and opposition parties are challenging the ANC’s long-held practice of deploying cadres. However, state-owned companies remain a massive thorn in the side of a capable state, with decades of rot and mismanagement still sapping the state’s coffers through debt and bailouts. While some steps are being taken to mitigate this – like rolling some entities into one – the state insists on creating new SOEs, while pushing ahead with other massive systems like the NHI that have the potential to falter like almost every other entity that has come before. ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://businesstech.co.za/news/government/731413/south-africas-broken-state/

Datacentrix Holdings | 15 November 2023 Datacentrix, which positions itself as a leading hybrid ICT systems integrator and managed services provider, is pleased to announce it has maintained its level one broad-based black economic empowerment (B-BBEE) rating for the seventh consecutive year, achieving a total score of just over 127 out of a possible 130 points on its most recent scorecard – one of the highest for the local industry. According to Datacentrix Chief Financial and Risk Officer, Elizabeth Naidoo, the organisation's consistent approach to transformation has been a critical factor in this achievement. “For Datacentrix, the topic of transformation – and sustained transformation most importantly – is very close to our hearts. Kenny Nkosi, Datacentrix’s Divisional Managing Director: Public Sector and Commercial Sales and Chairperson of the Employment Equity Committee, says: “Based on our current economic climate, the only way that we will be able to build South Africa into the powerhouse it has the potential to be is to ensure that this type of positive change is ongoing. And this is through sustained efforts around creating direct employment opportunities, supporting the growth of smaller local businesses, enabling the training and mentoring of individuals, building employment equity and more.” Nkosi notes with pride that the engagement of SME partners is an important accomplishment for Datacentrix. “Datacentrix has engaged with many SMEs over time, with some partnerships spanning more than 20 years. We have seen several partners transform from exempted micro enterprises (EMEs) to qualifying small enterprises (QSEs) – or even generic entities with revenue exceeding R50 million per year in some cases – which is a significant achievement in terms of business growth. “Most of these companies have successfully navigated a path that has allowed them to grow in both revenue and staff complement. As an excellent example, one of our SME partners that has engaged with Datacentrix since 2008 has grown their revenue by approximately 295% over the past 15 years. This type of development is vital to stimulating South Africa's economy and ensuring that it grows and thrives.” When it comes to skills development, Datacentrix has shown long-term commitment to supporting learners and graduates. The organisation established its learnership and internship programmes in 2008, welcoming hundreds of learners and graduate interns into the programmes with the aim of combining theoretical knowledge with on-the-job skills training. Most recently, the company instituted a bursary scheme with Wits University, and has already seen two of its graduates join the workforce to start their formal workplace training. Datacentrix spent over R8 million on training during the past financial year, a praiseworthy achievement in upskilling initiatives, adds Naidoo. Datacentrix continues to prioritise skills development in pursuit of its educational transformation goals. Nkosi further points out that: “Employment equity is another area on which Datacentrix has been assiduously focused over time, and our positive work here is apparent. Our most recent B-BBEE verification certificate shows employment equity of 70%, indicating significant progress in this area since our 59% score in 2020.” “Datacentrix has long recognised the importance of levelling the playing field and reducing inequality within the workplace, and so has placed long-term commitment to its development initiatives,” Naidoo concludes. ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://www.itweb.co.za/content/8OKdWqDXQpXqbznQ

SDGTalks | 15 November 2023 Young people aged 15 to 34 years had an unemployment rate of 43.4% in the third quarter, compared with 45.3% in the second, according to Statistics SA. The decline mimicked the drop in the country's overall unemployment rate, but the figures still show that close to half of the young people who should be economically active are jobless. "South Africa's high youth unemployment rate has significant economic and social implications. The lack of job opportunities for young people not only affects their individual prospects but also limits the country's potential to harness their skills, creativity, and innovation," Angelika Goliger, EY Africa's chief economist, said. Youth aged 15 to 24 years and 25 to 34 years continue to have the highest unemployment rates at 58% and 38.3% respectively. About 3.3-million, or 32.7%, out of 10.2-million young people aged 15 to 24 years were not in employment, education or training and "the youth remain vulnerable in the labour market," Stats SA said when it presented its Quarterly Labour Force Survey for the three months to September. For a financially secure population and a fiscally stable state, it's those early years that count. It's when people usually begin to build a pension, invest in other savings programmes, buy their first house, take out insurance and get themselves into a position to either help support a young family or look after older relatives. With so many of the people who were meant to be the future breadwinners of SA unable to find work, the longer-term economic outlook darkens. A queue that could span half of the continent Stats SA's data is a "bouquet of bad news for South Africa's young people", Mmusi Maimane, leader of the political party Build One South Africa, said in a statement, adding: At least 4.5-million young people are now unemployed. If every young, unemployed South African stood in a single file queue, it would stretch for almost 2 500 km. The queue would run from Johannesburg to Mombasa, Kenya. One of the contributing factors to job losses in critical industries is Eskom and its loadshedding. Although the official overall unemployment rate dropped 0.7 of a percentage point to 31.9% and, according to the expanded definition, it decreased 0.9 of a percentage point to 41.2%, the biggest employment losses were recorded in manufacturing. Frequent power outages have forced some factories to either close or scale back, but this was one area where a young person, who may not have a matric or a tertiary qualification, might have once been able to find a job. "The lower-than-expected overall unemployment rate despite the challenges faced by the economy is yet another data point that speaks to some resilience to the load shedding. That said, 50 000 manufacturing jobs were lost in the third quarter and the hope is that this can be reversed as power availability increases," said Razia Khan, Standard Chartered's managing director and chief economist for Africa and the Middle East. The terrible trend is clear Even if Eskom is able to ease power outages, the high levels of youth unemployment isn't a new trend. Ten years ago, the unemployment rate for those aged 15 to 34 was an already ugly 35% and the numbers have steadily worsened. The country's financial forecasts aren't offering much hope either. "Gross domestic product growth is projected to slow from 1.9% in 2022 to 0.8 per cent in 2023. Since the 2023 Budget, the economic growth outlook has weakened in line with changes in the world economy, and continued energy and logistics constraints," National Treasury said when it presented the medium-term budget on 1 November. With a national election looming, further declines in the jobless rate may help the ANC win votes, but as young, poor people age and become old, poor people the need for social grants and state care may increase, hampering growth in what then becomes a chicken-and-egg scenario. "South Africa's unemployment crisis is an outcome of our poor showing from an economic growth perspective," EY's Goliger said. A long way out The way out of unsustainably high levels of unemployment includes addressing Eskom's load shedding and Transnet's logistics challenges, implementing business-friendly policies to attract local and foreign investment, creating an enabling environment for entrepreneurship and small and medium-sized enterprise, she said. "A longer-term - but no-regrets - option is to continue prioritising and investing in high-quality education and skills development at all levels." ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://www.polity.org.za/article/sa-sees-job-growth-but-its-cold-comfort-for-millions-of-unemployed-youth-left-behind-2023-11-15/searchString:sa+sees+job+growth+but+its+cold

Clause 2.4.2 of statement 400 of the Amended General B-BBEE Codes of Good Practice allocates Bonus Points for creating one or more jobs as a direct result of a Supplier Development or Enterprise Development intervention. The necessary evidence varies between B-BBEE Rating Agencies. Generally, however, a letter confirming job creation from the Beneficiary will serve as such evidence or a Signed Employee contract. The letter of confirmation must affirm that the intervention created at least one new job. Some confirmations may include being administered by a Commissioner of Oaths. This must be undertaken by the Beneficiary and must include An organisation’s full name, physical address, postal address and registration number; A Beneficiary’s full company name, physical address, postal address, and registration number; The Enterprise Development or Supplier Development commenced; The date of the contribution; The number of new positions due to the intervention; and The names of the new employees; Enterprise & Supplier Development Services are available to assist Members meeting requirements for Job Creation.

Schedule 1 defines a ‘Voting Right’ as a Voting Right attaching to an Equity Instrument owned by or held for a participant,measured using the Flow-through Principle or the Control Principle. An ‘Exercisable Voting Right’ is a Voting Right of a Participant that is not subject to any limit. Therefore, an ‘Exercisable Voting Right’ is not a ‘Voting Right’. The difference between the definitions is that ‘Exercisable Voting Rights’ refer to ‘Voting Rights’ that are not subject to any limitations. Technical Compliance Services are available to help members understand the difference between ‘Voting Right’ & ‘Exercisable Voting Right’ under B-BBEE legislation.

The most significant risk to an organisation meeting its Preferential Procurement targets is fraudulent B-BBEE Certificates and Affidavits. They not only go against the spirit of B-BBEE, but they put an organisation at risk, as fraudulent B-BBEE Credentials generally only reveal themselves at the time of an organisation’s B-BBEE Verification. The B-BBEE Commission's website contains a list of known fraudulent / invalid B-BBEE Credentials currently in circulation. If any Members have suspicions about B-BBEE Credentials currently on file, Certificate Collection Services is on hand to assist with validation of their authenticity.

Staff Writer | 14 November 2023 The Department of Tourism and tech giant Google have signed an agreement that will see the department leverage Google’s technology to boost tourism in South Africa. The deal was finalised yesterday in Cape Town by tourism minister Patricia de Lille and Dr Alistair Mokoena, country director for Google SA. “In an era of digital transformation, collaboration between technology giants and government entities has the potential to reshape industries and enhance public services,” says De Lille. “As stated in the Tourism Sector Green Paper, there is a lack of support mechanisms for the sector, particularly SMMEs, to adapt to a digital future and other technological advancements.” The goal of the collaboration is to harness Google’s tech to support the department’s efforts to promote SA as a prime tourist destination. It will facilitate knowledge-sharing, skills development and the use of digital tools to enhance tourism experiences and sustainability. The department says no monetary exchange will take place as a result of the agreement. The deal includes insights into global travel trends provided by Google, specific studies to investigate the impact of digital platforms and online content, digital skills training for SMMEs through the Google Hustle Academy and Google Ads training. Tourism start-ups can be supported by Google programmes, such as the Start-up Accelerator and Black Founders Fund. The deal marks an extension of collaboration between Google and the department. During the COVID-19 lockdown, a deal was signed to help SA become a virtual tourist destination. Additionally, the partnership aims to showcase SA’s unique travel sites and hidden gems through the existing Google Arts and Culture portal. Mokoena says Google is excited to partner with the department and sign the letter of intent, which aims to position SA as a great tourist destination. “As a company that prides itself on organising the world’s information and making it universally accessible and useful, we look forward to rolling out various programmes, in conjunction with the department, to fast-track digital transformation in the sector, helping with digital skills and showcasing South African tourism,” adds Mokoena. The partnership will also allow for the creation of a tourism thought leadership seminar, which will focus on the digital opportunities for accelerating economic growth in the sector. “By tapping into Google's technology, through digital skills training and the sharing of insights, SA's industry, notably SMMEs, can present their offerings in innovative ways, engaging potential tourists and inspiring them to explore the country,” comments De Lille. In September, the department signed a memorandum of understanding with accommodation-sharing platform Airbnb SA, allowing them to work closely to advance SA’s tourism sector and create more jobs. ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://www.itweb.co.za/content/5yONPvEr3Om7XWrb

Bizcommunity | 13 November 2023 At a recent roundtable discussion hosted by youth development group Afrika Tikkun and tech giant Microsoft, business leaders from South Africa's largest corporations questioned whether the country's unemployment problem is due to a lack of jobs or a mismatch between the skills that young people have and the skills that employers need. During the dialogue held under the theme Skills Gap, Youth Employability and Employment industry leaders also identified a critical issue that is hindering progress in South Africa's skill development ecosystem: a lack of coordination and collaboration between employers and those who provide young people with skills. They warned that this lack of collaboration is allowing the skill gap to grow wider. While much of government policy and efforts by the skills and education sector focus on providing as many young people as possible with a wide range of skills and qualifications, employers are still struggling to fill vacancies in tech, finance and other growing sectors without hiring from outside SA or struggling to retain the small pool of skilled individuals in these crucial industries. The dialogue revealed that a significant obstacle impeding the country's workforce development environment was the conspicuous lack of cooperation and coordination among the various stakeholders who are accountable for providing the youth with necessary skills and employment. Distinguished delegates from leading companies, along with various SMMEs and recruitment firms shed light on the urgent imperative for a radical shift in perspective toward collaboration and skills-focused approaches. The consensus among industry players is that harnessing the power of supply chain interactions and industry-wide collaboration is paramount in addressing the pressing skills gap challenges faced by the nation. They also committed to tackling employment challenges as a collective. "Those who want to end the cycle of youth unemployment may need a change in attitude and perspective to get to the bottom of its skills gap challenges that continue to feed into rising unemployment," said Onyi Nwaneri, deputy CEO of Afrika Tikkun. The discussions held during the roundtable highlighted the necessity for employers to reassess their requirements, placing greater emphasis on the value of skills rather than solely relying on formal qualifications. "As we see slight improvements in some aspects of youth unemployment in SA, this is a crucial opportunity for employers to rethink their approach to workforce development," said Nwaneri. "By embracing a mindset change and acknowledging the value of skills, employers can actively contribute to bridging the gap between available resources and the needs of industries affected by the skills shortage." A move towards purpose-driven skills development Despite thousands of young people completing skills development and learnership programmes, the rate at which these graduates were being absorbed into the workforce was severely lacking. According to a recent study by two skills development groups The Collective X and Harambee, more than 28,000 digital and ICT jobs are outsourced to other countries in South Africa, which amounts to R8.5bn in lost export revenue. Additionally, there is currently a demand for around 66,000 digital and ICT jobs forecasted for the next year, of which around 44,000 are entry-level jobs suitable for the youth. But does South Africa have the skilled youth to fill these posts? Young people need to change their attitudes towards education and skills development by embracing the opportunities presented by new technology and globalisation. Employers likewise need to look for skills rather than formal qualifications in order to give opportunities to more capable and eager young minds to participate in the evolving economy, delegates said. In an effort to foster employer collaboration and sustainable growth across industries, AT plans to facilitate further initiatives in the coming months. "We hope this will be the start of a collaborative movement comprising employers, educators, and organisations dedicated to addressing poverty, inequality, and employment challenges in SA. "By leveraging the power of unity and collaboration, AT aims to create a thriving ecosystem that empowers young individuals and uplifts communities," concludes Nwaneri. ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/536/243731.html

Government | Bloomberg | 13 November 2023 This article has been updated with the government’s response to the reports. Government responds to reports on BBE targets for farm exports in South Africa South African farms deemed “too white” will no longer be able to export their produce to the United Kingdom (UK) and the European Union (EU), according to postings in the Government Gazette, the Johannesburg-based City Press newspaper reported. Under the rules, farmers must meet specific Black economic empowerment targets to continue obtaining export permits. The guidelines will apply to agricultural businesses with a minimum annual turnover of R10 million ($534,000) or more. Milk, cream, butter, fruit, nuts, sugar, jam, fruit purée, fruit juices, yeast, table grapes and wine are among the products affected, according to the notice. Southern African Agri Initiative (Saai), a farmers’ lobbying group, told City Press that the rules would undermine investor security, job creation and growth in the nation’s agricultural sector. Further, the measures fall “far outside the framework of internationally acceptable protocols, and the lobby will fight against it in every local and international forum, in courts and multilateral agencies of the UN and the African Union,” City Press reported, citing Theo de Jager, head of Saai. Democratic Alliance, the biggest opposition party in South Africa, lodged a complaint with the trade offices of the EU and the UK, arguing that the regulations violate the rules of fair trade. South Africa’s agreements with the EU and the UK are explicitly premised upon protecting human rights, democratic principles and the rule of law, the alliance said. South African agricultural exports were about R240 billion ($12.8 billion) in 2022, with 20% headed to the EU and 4% to the UK. South African companies have been encouraged to adopt Black-empowerment plans to comply with government policies aimed at redressing financial inequality stemming from the apartheid era. Government denies reports South Africa’s government rejected the reports. The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform & Rural Development publishes procedural requirements for export permits annually, it said in a statement sent by text message on Monday. They include complying with sanitary, phytosanitary requirements, rules of origin and other factors contained in bilateral agreements, the department said. The articles “misrepresented the government’s message about the procedure and annual application for export permits,” it said. “These requirements are not new, and there is no threshold or level that an applicant must reach to be awarded a permit.” ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://businesstech.co.za/news/government/730665/bbe-targets-hit-south-african-farms-deemed-too-white/

Warren Hawkins | 13 November 2023 SANRAL extends its public consultation on the proposed Interim Preferential Procurement Policy to the Free State. On Friday 10 November, the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) hosted the third instalment of a series of public consultations regarding a proposed Interim Preferential Procurement Policy (PPP) in the Free State. The event took place at the Mangaung Metro Municipality Hall, with virtual participation and satellite venues in Matjhabeng and Smithfield. Kaiser Khoza, SANRAL’s Chief Legal, Risk, and Compliance Officer, and Dumisani Nkabinde, Regional Manager for the Eastern Region, along with other stakeholders, engaged with local construction representatives and various interested parties to discuss the proposed Interim PPP and related matters. “Transformation underpins South Africa’s democracy and previously disadvantaged black South Africans are running out of patience following years of being on the economic periphery picking up crumbs from SANRAL projects,” said Khoza. Tshegare Moletsane, the Acting Transformation Manager, emphasised SANRAL’s steadfast commitment to embedding transformation in its operations, with the goal of expediting the development and growth of Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs). “SANRAL is in the process of designing a contractor development programme aimed at ensuring targeted enterprises – which includes black-owned SMMEs and enterprises owned by women youth, military veterans and people with disabilities – are progressively advancing in their Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) grading, ensuring that designated enterprises participate more meaningfully in SANRAL projects,” said Moletsane. The assembled SMMEs wholeheartedly endorsed SANRAL’s commitment to deliver a more progressive final PPP in the near future. However, there was a unanimous appeal for the agency to intensify consultations with black SMMEs to ensure that beneficiaries fully comprehend the policy’s objectives aimed at enhancing their livelihoods. SMMEs urged SANRAL to engage organised black business structures for support before potential court challenges. In his concluding statements, Khoza remarked that the seemingly enduring prosperity of previously advantaged companies in South Africa was unsustainable in the face of widespread poverty. The proposed Interim Preferential Procurement Policy (PPP) is open for public comments for three weeks, until 17 November. The document is accessible on SANRAL’s website (www.nra.co.za) and social media platforms. ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://www.bloemfonteincourant.co.za/sanral-extends-its-public-consultation-on-the-proposed-interim-preferential-procurement-policy-to-the-free-state/