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Edwin Naidu | 6 November 2024 Deputy Minister Higher Education and Training, Mimmy Gondwe hosted a Skills and Jobs Summit at the University of Johannesburg earlier on Wednesday to find solutions tackling South Africa’s youth unemployment crisis. “This is a social and political time bomb”, Gondwe said in her address, adding that the economy was neither inclusive or created jobs, which resulted in soaring levels of poverty and the high cost of living. “The good thing is that we have it in our hands to defuse this ticking time bomb. For me, that is why we are here today. To collectively find ways of defusing this ticking time bomb,” she said. One of the ways of doing this, she said, was through education and skills development. A 2019 report by the National Skills Authority indicated that despite efforts to improve the impact of SETAs, there were still significant gaps in skills development, with many learners who had completed training programmes struggling to find employment. The deputy minister said youth unemployment currently stood at around 45%, meaning that nearly half of the young people in the country could work and wanted to do so, but could not find work. “This summit must further answer the question of what are we going to do, as a collective, to ensure that we meet the priorities of the current seventh administration, which are to drive inclusive growth and job creation, to reduce poverty and tackle the high cost of living, and to build a capable and ethical developmental state,” she said. “Everything we do as the department and as a key role player in the sector must touch on all these priorities. I am possibly restating the obvious when I say: we are all in this together. The success of this summit will be everyone’s success,” she added.   Hosted by the university’s Johannesburg Business School, Gondwe told the meeting that youth unemployment was a significant problem in South Africa, and she raised concerns about the skills mismatch, with graduates from training programmes struggling to find employment.   She said the Skills and Jobs Summit was part of a vision to bring the higher education sector and business into one room to engage on the very critical issue of youth unemployment and skills development. “We are gathered here this morning in the understanding that all of us, whether as business or members of the Post School Education and Training (PSET) sector, we have the common responsibility of being the villagers helping to raise the young of our village. “Each of us comes to the table with different skill sets, resources and influence. What we must not undermine is that while we may not bring the same amount of whatever resource is at our disposal, what we bring to the table is worthy and necessary,” the Deputy Minister said. Currently, the overall unemployment rate in South Africa is high, reaching 33.5% in the second quarter of 2024.   The Deputy Minister noted that poverty and low education levels contributed to the high unemployment rates, while women and people with disabilities faced even higher unemployment rates, with the latter approaching 100% in rural areas.   Gondwe warned that there was an urgent need to address these issues to prevent social unrest and create a more inclusive and prosperous society.   She challenged delegates to ensure that at the end of the summit, they pledge on how each of them, given their different areas of activity, would help ensure that opportunities for identified skills that are needed and demanded by this economy. One of the attendees, Jacques Basson, committed to work with the department to develop a call centre with the potential to create 1000 white-collar jobs within a year.  “Basson has further placed before us ideas on how the agricultural sector can help train young people in the use of biometric technology and another how we can turn farm workers into farmers owning their farms. These are the kinds of pledges and commitments that I am asking for from the business community,” Gondwe said. For her, success would resemble access to the economy either as an employer or an entrepreneur, therefore, the higher education sector must create a skilled workforce and a cohort of young people who were able to either find work or create work for themselves and others. “It is no longer good enough for the PSET sector to measure itself by the number of enrolments or the number of certificates, diplomas and degrees awarded. The sector is now compelled to measure itself on whether the young people who emerge from it, can be absorbed into the economy either as employees or entrepreneurs,” she reiterated. This would mean that the sector would have contributed to pushing back against the high levels of unemployment and poverty, especially amongst the youth. “We need both short-term and long-term interventions. We must identify what it is that we can do today as we prepare for what can be done in the long term to ensure that the country’s economy thrives and grows.” Challenging delegates to move on from old ways, she said: “We are here to invest in the future of our youth, which is investing in the future of our country. We cannot do this without being fully intentional and deliberate.” ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://insideeducation.co.za/skills-and-jobs-summit-tackles-youth-unemployment-time-bomb/

The Citizen | 6 November 2024 The ADG said the deployment of technical expertise, particularly at key power stations like Kusile, has been central to the turnaround.  Government’s strategic partnership with the private sector is yielding tangible results in tackling critical economic challenges, with major strides made in stabilising energy supply, improving logistics, and addressing crime and corruption.  This collaboration, which began over a year ago, entered a new phase with President Cyril Ramaphosa’s launch of Phase 2 of the Government-Business Partnership on 1 October 2024. Phase 2 of the Government-Business Partnership aims to address critical economic challenges facing the country. Amongst others, this partnership will ensure that the country addresses corruption and crime both in business and government, has a secure energy supply, and efficient freight and logistics to facilitate trade.  Speaking to SAnews , Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) Acting Director-General (ADG), Nomonde Mnukwa, highlighted the significant progress made under the auspices of the Government-Business Partnership, citing key milestones in the energy, logistics, and law enforcement sectors. Stabilising the energy sector Mnukwa emphasised the pivotal role the partnership has played in addressing the country’s energy crisis.  As part of the Energy Action Plan, President Cyril Ramaphosa’s appointment of the Minister of Electricity (renamed Minister of Electricity and Energy) ensured dedicated leadership that unlocked bottlenecks, which has reassured both investors and citizens.  “As a result of the partnership and steps that we have taken through the Energy Action Plan, we have experienced over 200 days without load shedding. Reforms in the energy sector have unlocked hundreds of billions of Rands in investment, helping to address the long-standing shortfall in our electricity supply,” Mnukwa stated.   The ADG said the deployment of technical expertise, particularly at key power stations like Kusile, has been central to the turnaround.  “The focus has been on ensuring that Eskom becomes a stable institution. This included appointing a new CEO and collaborating with businesses to deploy technical and project management expertise, particularly at key power stations. These efforts have ensured continuous maintenance of power plants, and we are seeing tangible results,” she said.  Furthermore, the partnership has attracted significant investment into the energy sector. Reforms have unlocked hundreds of billions of rands in investment, addressing the long-standing shortfall in electricity supply.   The country has also received international funding to support its Just Energy Transition, with several Green Economy projects, such as Green Hydrogen and Electric Vehicle initiatives, poised for implementation. Reforming freight and logistics South Africa’s port and rail infrastructure are strategic national assets, and 2023 saw President Ramaphosa putting in place a roadmap for the freight logistics system in order to improve the performance of South Africa’s ports and rail network and drive economic growth. Mnukwa underscored the progress made by the National Logistics Crisis Committee which led efforts to streamline logistics, reducing congestion at the country’s ports and improving traffic flow. Through the National Logistics Crisis Committee, government is making progress in stabilising and improving the logistics system to support the nation’s key export industries.  Recent government interventions, coordinated through Operation Vulindlela, resulted in a significant reduction in port congestion and contributed to ensuring the ease of doing business, which is crucial for the growth of our economy. Both exports and imports play a vital role in driving economic growth, and addressing these logistical challenges is key.  “Interventions at Transnet are already yielding encouraging results in reducing port congestion and progress is also being made to support economic recovery,” Mnukwa said. In a bid to ensure long-term efficiency, government has introduced the Freight Logistics Roadmap, which opens up the logistics network to private sector participation, particularly in container terminals. The reforms are aimed at stabilising and modernising the sector to facilitate trade and growth. “As echoed by our President, government has embarked on a process of fundamental reform through the Freight Logistics Roadmap, enabling open access to the freight logistics network and introducing private sector participation in container terminals for the first time,” ADG said.  Fighting corruption and strengthening law enforcement The partnership between government and business has also focused on combating corruption and strengthening law enforcement agencies.  Mnukwa highlighted the progress made in reversing the effects of State capture and rebuilding the capabilities of institutions such as the Hawks and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).  “The second component, in terms of the partnership, was to deal with criminality, and we’ve seen the prosecution of individuals involved in criminal activities at Eskom. Assets have also been seized because of the work between the NPA, the SIU and the Hawks. The morale among Eskom staff has also improved, as highlighted by the Minister of Electricity and Energy, and this is essential for productivity,” she said. Government has also prioritised removing South Africa from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list by strengthening anti-corruption measures.  In the past few months, the President signed several Acts into law to advance these reforms, including the Electricity Regulation Amendment Act, the Economic Regulation of Transport Act, and the NPA Amendment Act. Accelerating progress with Phase 2 With Phase 2 of the Government-Business Partnership now underway, Mnukwa stressed that the focus is on accelerating interventions to deliver quicker results. “The launch of the second phase is about shifting into high gear, accelerating interventions to achieve faster results. We’ve learned valuable lessons from the first phase, and we’re now applying those insights to improve and enhance our efforts going forward. We’ve moved from stabilising the economy to saying let’s grow it for our people,” Mnukwa said. The President stated this during the launch of Phase 2 of the Government-Business Partnership, emphasising the importance of sustaining and amplifying these efforts.  “We’ve made real progress in stabilising critical sectors, and now it’s time to grow the economy for the benefit of all South Africans,” President Ramaphosa said. Job creation As part of this new phase, the partnership is expanding its reach to tackle more areas, including job creation, particularly for the youth. “Through existing partnerships with business, such as the Youth Employment Service (YES) programme, we have been able to create over 155,000 work placements for unemployed young people. “Significantly, as much as 45% of these young people went into full-time jobs after their internship, demonstrating the impact of the partnership,” Mnukwa said.  Government has also developed SAYouth.mobi, in partnership with Harambee, with strong support from the private sector. More than five million young South Africans are now registered on the SA Youth network.  Mnukwa stressed the need to continue fostering business-government cooperation to create a brighter future for South Africa. ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://www.citizen.co.za/business/government-private-sector-partnership-drives-key-economic-progress/

Siyabonga Sithole | 13 January 2024 President Cyril Ramaphosa says the ANC has taken a decision to prioritise the employment of young people and adults aged over 35. Ramaphosa said the country’s current laws were discriminatory towards adults over 35 as well as as people living with disabilities. He said it was important for these laws to be amended as these groups felt sidelined by the laws which prioritised those below the age of 35 while having a negative effect on those older. “We as the ANC must make sure that those over 35 years and older are given opportunities. We must make sure that they have access to jobs and employment opportunities. “Over the years, the ANC has made efforts to open opportunities of employment. The ANC has also made efforts to ensure that our manifesto reflects this,” he said. Ramaphosa, who addressed a capacity crowd at Mbombela Stadium, said the country’s youth should benefit from the country’s minerals. “Our country is blessed with mineral resources and the youth league has been saying to me that they are tired of exporting all our minerals. They told me that we must locally beneficiate our minerals and only export them as finished goods in order to re-industrialise our economy as the current situation does not benefit them. I agree and support the youth league,” he said. Delivering Sanco’s message of support to the president, chairperson Skhumbuzo Mpanza said red tape was the reason why millions of young people and those over 35 remained excluded from job opportunities. “These red tapes are stopping South Africa from participating in the economy of their land. We need to ensure our kids are in school and that when they finish school they are given access to jobs. It is important for us to campaign for the ANC in order to ensure South Africans benefit from the economy,” he said. Ramaphosa said people living with disabilities were also excluded from jobs and urged government departments to open their doors to them. “We must open employment opportunities also to people living with disabilities because they too deserve to work and earn a living. They tell me that they are unemployed and they do not enjoy the same opportunities as everyone. We must include them and not relegate them to the back,” he said. | Sunday Independent ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://www.iol.co.za/sundayindependent/news/ramaphosa-supports-employment-of-women-and-adults-over-35-2acf71d9-8518-4363-92d7-64d09c96f0ca

A B-BBEE Code of Good Practice is a framework of measurement on how a Measured Entity scores points to achieve a specific B-BBEE Status Level. It consists of all principles, calculations, and methodologies on how this is executed.   As per Clause 3 of Statement 000 of the Amended General B-BBEE Codes of Good Practice , the following is stated:   3.     APPLICATION OF THE CODES   3.1   The following Entities are measurable under the Codes:    3.1.1     all Organs of State and Public Entities;   3.1.2     all Measured Entities that undertake any economic activity with all Organs of State and Public Entities;   3.1.3     any other Measured Entity that undertakes any economic activity, whether direct or indirect, with any other Measured Entity that is subject to measurement under paragraph 3.1.1 to 3.1.2 and which is seeking to establish its own B-BBEE compliance.     Technical Services  are on hand to assist with the understanding of the above.

Although entering into an Enterprise or Supplier Development loan contract is generally done with the best intentions, some loans issued will inevitably be defaulted on or, in the worst case, a Beneficiary will refuse to repay it. When giving a loan, an organisation has the full rights of recovery; however, this has to be clear in the terms and conditions. First and foremost, a loan must take the form of a debt instrument; thus, it must never be a grant disguised as a loan.   Any loan made with the intention of not receiving repayment of the capital amount is not a loan but a grant and must be claimed as such. Consequently, claiming a loan under Enterprise or Supplier Development instead of a grant is Fronting Practice.   However, if a beneficiary fails to repay a bona fide loan, an organisation may offer a Beneficiary a grant which will allow them to repay the loan. Otherwise, an organisation can write off the loan or follow the legal route based on the terms and conditions of a particular loan.   Enterprise & Supplier Development Services are available to guide Members to ensure their contracts align with the requirements of the relevant code.

The concept of “Black New Entrants” is found under the Ownership scorecard whereby the Amended General B-BBEE Codes of Good Practice allows for Two Points to be scored based on a 2% Compliance Target.   The definition contained under Schedule 1 of the Amended General B-BBEE Codes of Good Practice  defines “Black New Entrants” as “ Black participants who hold rights of ownership in a Measured Entity and who, before holding the Equity Instrument in the Measured Entity, have not held equity instruments in any Entity which has a total value of more than R50,000,000.00 measured using a standard valuation method.”   Technical Services  are on hand to assist with the understanding of the above and how it is recognised.

Edward West | 15 January 2024 Employment and Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi yesterday advised young people that there is “no job that is a dirty job … there is no job that is too lowly – that is how we start out to gain experience and work our way up from the bottom”. Speaking at a jobs fair at Bushbuckridge, he said taking an entry-level job might lead to processes of discovery of talents and skills. He told the community that paperwork was at an advanced stage to open a labour centre to bring departmental services to the community. He said the unemployed should use the jobs fair to launch their entry or re-entry into the job market “in this constrained jobs environment”. The gravity of the unemployment situation was exhibited by the 1 111 people who came to register as work seekers and were provided with employment counselling services during the jobs fair. “We are hoping that with the assistance provided to work seekers to apply for various opportunities, within the coming weeks, the majority will be contacted and assisted to prepare for interviews with prospective employers in the province and beyond. We also received 1 244 applications for the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) and enquiries, and where all documents were complete, payments were effected. We also received and processed 68 applications and enquiries for Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases,” Nxesi said. The Bushbuckridge jobs fair followed similar ones held the previous year in Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, North West and Limpopo. The next jobs fairs will be held in the Free State and Western Cape, respectively. ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://www.iol.co.za/business-report/economy/no-job-is-lowly-if-you-are-young-and-can-work-your-way-up-from-the-bottom-minister-3ae02956-6a92-4bac-a483-5e029a512246

Edward West | 15 January 2024 The Eastern and Southern regions were allocated bigger portions as they included significant infrastructure projects such as the N2/N3 expansion in KwaZulu-Natal and N2 Wild Coast project in the Eastern Cape. The South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) on Friday announced a R28 billion boost for the construction industry after some 70 new tenders would be put to the market in coming weeks. Last year Sanral ruffled feathers in the construction industry when its board implemented a new black economic empowerment (BEE) scoring system which the state-owned enterprise uses when adjudicating tender bids. Sanral faced legal challenges in an effort to overturn the board’s new BEE scoring system, and in October Sanral withdrew its tenders. Then in December, its tenders were put out again, but not under the new BEE procurement policy. Sanral CEO Reginald Demana said they had closed 77 tenders worth R6.43bn in December 2023. They intended to put out at least another 70 tenders to the market in the next couple of weeks. This would result in about R28bn of tenders advertised under the Interim procurement policy in the current 2023/2024 financial year. He said the agency was on a mission to accelerate work in the construction industry early in the first half of 2024. “There is a lot of work we want to dish out. By March, we want to have about R28bn’s worth of tenders in the market. However, some will be closed towards April when we enter the new financial year,” he said. The work would be spread across the entire country. The Western Region (Western Cape and Northern Cape) would get contracts worth R600 million. The Southern Region (Eastern Cape) would get contracts worth R2.8bn. The Eastern Region (Free State and KwaZulu-Natal) would get contracts worth R2.1bn. The Northern Region (Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North West) would get contracts worth more than R500m. The Eastern and Southern regions were allocated bigger portions as they included significant infrastructure projects such as the N2/N3 expansion in KwaZulu-Natal and N2 Wild Coast project in the Eastern Cape. “We try make sure we are distributing work and tenders equitably so we don't leave any part of the country feeling that we are not looking after the national road network in their area,” said Demana. He said that as part of Sanral’s efforts to deepen transformation and in terms of its Interim Preferential Procurement Policy, at least 30% of the contracts would be allocated to smaller black-owned construction companies. Sanral hoped to see these small businesses graduate to become major construction companies through these contracts He said that wherever the Sanral projects were, the agency had a mandate that saw value flowing through to small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs), local contractors and local communities. He said Sanral’s projects were always on time and within budget, as the 25-year organisation had qualified project managers who tracked the projects and monitored expenditure and the quality of execution. ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://www.iol.co.za/business-report/economy/sanral-expects-to-put-r28bns-road-contracts-out-to-tender-50ba4458-99bc-489d-b6d6-c96583ec4397

Topco Media | 15 January 2024 Topco Media, a leading B2B media, digital and events company, is set to host the 2024 sustainability conference, focusing on successful, sustainable principles, practices, funding and ESG. The event, scheduled for March 19-20, 2024, in Johannesburg, aims to connect, celebrate and profile sustainable, ethical, and green companies to a local and global audience of global sustainability experts. In a bold move towards greening economies and promoting sustainable practices, the conference will underscore the three pillars of sustainability: environment, social, and governance. Topco Media is proud to announce Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa (CCBSA) as a platinum partner for the Future of Sustainability Conference. CCBSA's commitment to sustainability aligns seamlessly with the conference's core objectives. Ralf Fletcher, CEO of Topco Media, emphasises the significance of this collaboration, stating that, "Through this conference, participants will be learning how to implement world-class sustainability practices, be guided by future-thinking leaders, and collaborate with like-minded industry experts." Commenting on why CCBSA decided to partner with Topco Media, CCBSA Head of Communication and Reputation, Motshidisi Mokwena, said, “For CCBSA, profitability is important, but not at any cost. People matter. Our planet matters. We do business the right way by following our values and partnering for solutions that benefit us all. Our strategic sustainability focus areas are ambitious, but we believe that we have put in place robust plans to ensure we realise our vision of a sustainable future that will benefit future generations”. Ralf Fletcher further states, "CCBSA is a prime example of a company dedicated to making a positive impact on the environment and society. Their involvement as a platinum partner is a testament to their commitment to the principles of sustainability." The Future of Sustainability Conference provides a platform for companies like CCBSA to showcase their commitment to positive change, inspiring others to look at how they can have a positive impact on society by implementing relevant Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through the support of influential sponsors and partners, the conference aims to drive actionable strategies towards a more sustainable future. Join the conversation and secure your spot by purchasing a ticket here. More about CCBSA’s Sustainability Initiatives Environmental Policies and Achievements - CCBSA's key sustainability areas include waste management, water stewardship, consumer well-being, local sourcing, economic inclusion of women and youth, and climate change. In line with the Coca-Cola Company’s World Without Waste Vision 2023, CCBSA has set ambitious goals, including making all packaging 100% recyclable by 2025, achieving 50% recycled content in packaging by 2025, and making 25% of packaging reusable by 2030. Environmental and Social Impact on Surrounding Communities - CCBSA's Water Stewardship Strategy 2030 focuses on ensuring universal and equitable access to affordable drinking water for all, with a special emphasis on the vulnerable girl child and women in rural areas. Initiatives like Coke Ville, an off-grid, solar-powered groundwater harvesting and treatment programme, have provided millions of litres of water to communities across South Africa and the company has set clear targets to reduce the amount of water used per litre of product produced and water used in our entire operations. Regarding economic inclusion, CCBSA believes its pillars that look at employability, education, and entrepreneurship will enable young people and women to become productive members of society. The company has been running programmes like ‘Bizniz in a Box’, the company’s bursary programme, and Study Buddy Fund which supports youth from previously disadvantaged backgrounds to access higher education and has developed campaigns primarily aimed at targeting young people into CCBSA. Local Sourcing and Supplier Development is part of CCBSA’s efforts to integrate black-owned and black women-owned businesses in its value chain and is actively driving its preferential procurement plan, ensuring procurement spend is allocated to black-owned companies. ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://www.bizcommunity.com/article/future-of-sustainability-conference-to-spotlight-corporate-giants-committed-to-positive-change-456469a

Christopher Tredger | 17 January 2024 South Africa’s IT sector is under pressure due to a lack of skills and diversity. This is according to Dr Fazlyn Petersen, a senior lecturer in the Department of Information Systems at the University of the Western Cape. Dr Petersen says the IS market needs more employment equity candidates, and more skills, including data analytics and cyber security skills. This is particularly true in the highly specialised IT auditing field, where a combination of accounting, auditing and IT skills is required. Dr Petersen will discuss these issues in her keynote address at the ITWeb GRC 2024 event on 20 February 2024 at the Forum in Bryanston, Johannesburg. You don’t teach ‘IT audit’ as a skill, you typically teach audit. However, because most of the financial information is sitting on IT systems, IT audit comes first and becomes more important for us.” Her presentation will cover the University’s partnership with Absa, which sponsors an IT audit academy at the IS department. The Absa iNkanyezi IT Audit Academy aims to equip third-year students who will enter the job market in 2025 with the right skills sets. Dr Petersen will showcase successful training models and methodologies, share insights into overcoming barriers, and issue a call to action for industry support in expanding similar initiatives. ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://www.itweb.co.za/article/itwebgrc2024-it-audit-industry-looks-to-reduce-skills-gap-attract-ee-candidates/6GxRKMYQNemMb3Wj

African Reported | 23 January 2024 The New Year marks a new beginning for both Individuals and Employers to implement new resolutions to improve their quality of life. One of the priorities for Employers is to develop an engaged, agile and diverse workforce. At the same time, some employees aspire to improve their formal qualifications, while some individuals are looking for a job. Employers are encouraged to take advantage of the existing Learnership Allowance Agreement which aims to encourage skills development among employees. Additionally, it promotes job creation and contributes to economic growth in South Africa. A learnership agreement is a contract between an employer, a learner and a training provider that allows the learner to gain a recognised qualification while working for the employer. The learner receives both theoretical and practical training, and the employer provides the necessary resources and supervision. A learnership agreement can be entered into by any employer, regardless of whether they are registered for the Skills Development Levy (SDL) or not. Learnership agreements have many benefits for both employers and learners/employees. One of the main incentives for employers who enter learnership agreements is the additional tax deduction in respect of learnership agreements (as stipulated under Section 12H of the Income Tax Act). This deduction allows employers to claim an amount over and above the normal salary or wage expense for each learner who is party to a learnership agreement. The amount of the deduction depends on the NQF level of the qualification, the duration of the learnership, and whether the learner is a person with a disability or not. The deduction is available for both new and existing learnership agreements, and for both full-time and part-time learners. A learnership allowance consists of two parts: An annual allowance is available for each year of assessment in which a learner is party to a registered learnership agreement (Section 12H(2) and (2A)). It is apportioned if the agreement was not in effect for the full year. A completion allowance is a lump sum available in the year of assessment when the employee completes the learnership. It is claimed in addition to the annual allowance. The amount of the allowance depends on the level of qualification and the disability status of the employee. The table below shows the current rates of the allowance as of the 2023/2024 tax year. Qualification Annual allowance Completion allowance NQF 1-6 R40 000 R40 000 NQF 7-10 R20 000 R20 000 Disabled employee (any NQF level) R50 000 R60 000 To claim the allowance, the employer must complete an IT180 form for each learnership agreement. This must be submitted to SARS along with the employer’s annual Income Tax Return. The allowance will be deducted from the employer’s income from trade when the employer’s Taxable Income is determined. Tax Filing Deadline Reminder for Provisional Taxpayers An important reminder is that Provisional taxpayers must file their annual Income Tax return for the 2023 tax year by 24 January 2024. This applies to both electronic and manual submissions. Electronic submissions can be done through SARS eFiling or the SARS MobiApp. Manual submissions can be done by appointment at a SARS branch. Provisional tax criteria are published on the SARS website. We encourage those taxpayers who are yet to file their tax returns to do so immediately to avoid administrative penalties for late and non-submission. Deadline for Trusts to file an annual return All Trusts, including those who are not economically active, are required to file a tax return annually. Trusts must file their annual income tax returns before or on 24 January 2024.  Individuals and trustees, as representative taxpayers of Trusts (or their appointed tax practitioner), are reminded to ensure timeous filing based on their specific taxpayer status (provisional or non-provisional). Late filing will attract penalties and interest. As of 2023, trustees are required to submit mandatory supporting documents during the filing process. These documents include, amongst others, the Trust instrument, Annual Financial Statements, Letters of Authority, resolutions/minutes of trustee meetings and an organogram depicting the Beneficial Ownership of the Trust. Additionally, beneficiaries of Trusts are required to declare their income, including income derived from a Trust, in their personal income tax returns. The personal income tax return (ITR12) and Trust income tax return (ITR12T) can be obtained on eFiling. An appointment with a SARS branch may be made on the SARS website. Taxpayers are encouraged to obtain information on trusts on the SARS website. ‘Disclaimer - The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://www.citizen.co.za/african-reporter/news-headlines/2024/01/23/sars-time-to-upskill-your-employees/

Statistics South Africa is the source used to determine the Net Profit After Tax (NPAT) for calculating the targets for Enterprise Development, Supplier Development and Socio-Economic Development. The latest statistics  were published during December 2023. The statistics in this version will be for the 3rd quarter of 2023.   Any B-BBEE Verification from hereon would most commonly apply the latest Industry Norm published by Statistics South Africa. For example, if a B-BBEE Verification takes place in January 2024, the latest published stats to be used would be those posted during December 2023.    Technical Compliance Services  is available to guide members in calculating their Targets.