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Schalk Burger | 3 June 2025 Regulator the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) has formally approved three new National Qualifications Framework (NQF) Level 4 green hydrogen skills programmes, namely green hydrogen production, green hydrogen storage and transfer and green hydrogen technology, says Chemical Industries Education and Training Authority (CHIETA). These programmes will equip learners with critical technical and operational skills needed in the green hydrogen value chain, from production and storage to transportation and technology innovation, and will help to build the country’s capacity for a sustainable and inclusive energy future, says CHIETA CEO Yershen Pillay. These programmes were developed in close collaboration with industry leaders, training providers, technical experts and government stakeholders. The three nationally recognised qualifications have thus been designed to meet the real demands of a fast-evolving green hydrogen sector, he notes. “We are building the technical pipeline needed to support a green economy, while opening up career opportunities for youth, artisans and operators across multiple industries.” Specifically, the three QCTO-approved qualifications will prepare learners for a range of roles in green hydrogen production, storage, transport and technology. Among others, learners will be equipped to operate and maintain hydrogen production and storage equipment and coordinate technical activities and logistics. They will also be able to monitor environmental impacts and performance of hydrogen technologies and understand safety, regulatory and industry standards. Graduates will be ready for roles such as operators, artisans, maintenance technicians and logistics professionals across the energy, transport, manufacturing and chemical sectors, Pillay says. Further, with QCTO approval secured, skills development providers (SDPs) can now apply for programme accreditation. Once accredited, SDPs can begin offering the programmes, with CHIETA providing strategic guidance and support. CHIETA is also embarking on a national awareness campaign to promote uptake, build training infrastructure, and ensure access across provinces, he adds. South Africa’s rich renewable-energy resources and strong chemical industry base place it in a unique position to lead the continent’s green hydrogen revolution. However, without the right skills in place, this opportunity could be lost. “Green hydrogen has the potential to power inclusive industrial growth, support decarbonisation, and promote sustainability. This is about future-proofing our workforce and ensuring no one is left behind in the energy transition. “Green hydrogen is a pathway to economic renewal and climate resilience and, with the right skills, South Africa will lead the way,” he says. ‘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/qcto-approves-three-green-hydrogen-skills-qualifications-programmes-2025-06-03

Siyabonga Sithole | 3 June 2025 Skills development and an inclusive and youth-oriented economy were some of the big talking points at the launch of this year's Youth Month programme in Soweto. The Minister in the Presidency responsible for women, youth and people with disabilities, Sindisiwe Chikunga, her deputy, Mmapaseka "Steve" Letsike, and City of Joburg Mayor, Dada Morero, led a multi-pronged programme to kick-off Youth Month during a ceremony held at the Hector Peterson Memorial and Uncle Tom's Hall in Orlando West, Soweto. Reflecting on the historical significance of the uprisings, renowned activist Seth Mazibuko, who is one of the few remaining faces of the uprising,  announced plans from his foundation to commemorate the pivotal moment in South Africa's Struggle for freedom. Activities will include a significant march involving eight schools that participated in the uprising, as well as the unveiling of "50 untold stories of June 16". "Indeed, there will be a march that will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the June 16 uprising, which will involve eight schools that took part in the uprisings. There is also a plan to launch the 50 untold stories of June 16, which will be stories told by some of the unsung heroes of the June 16 massacre. These include people who are not necessarily from Soweto but other parts of the province and country," Mazibuko said. Speaking to the media ahead of the launch programme, Chikunga said preparations for the celebration, developing a skilled South African youth, is an important aspect of ensuring that young people feel included in the skills and economic endeavours to ensure they are well-prepared for the future. "What we are going to be doing, from June this year to June next year, is to look at skills development for the future because some of the current skills may become redundant. We need to revitalise some of the skills so that young people with skills that are no longer in demand in terms of the market need, something can be done for those individuals. We have all these companies that are here who are displaying and exhibiting what they can do for young people," she stated. The minister's sentiments were echoed by Morero, who stressed the importance of improving the city's economy in order to create jobs and business opportunities for young people. "The generation of 1976 fought so that you and I can be free, so that we can celebrate free education in our lifetime, and we must ensure that education is free in the true sense of the word so that we can empower future generations and ensure that we have the necessary skills for young people to contribute to economic growth and generate economic growth for South Africa," Morero stated. ‘Disclaimer - The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://iol.co.za/news/south-africa/2025-06-03-how-south-africas-youth-month-aims-to-empower-young-people-through-skills-development/

Sunday World | 2 June 2025 Second to the outcome of the life-changing 2024 elections, South Africans are once again confronted by one of the biggest challenges to their dream of an egalitarian post-apartheid: continuing racial disparities and finding a solution to the quagmire. A major cause for the prevailing situation is the recent release for public comment of the Draft Transformation Fund by Minister for Trade, Industry and Competition Parks Tau. The fund is about aggregating various empowerment initiatives under a unified framework, thereby enhancing efficiency and reducing fragmentation. Through its centralised approach, the fund seeks to foster coherence across government and private sector programmes to ensure that resources are deployed effectively to maximise impact and accelerate B-BBEE compliance. Then there is ActionSA’s announcement about a plan to replace the country’s current means of achieving social and economic justice—the B-BBEE driving policies. A key proposal in this plan includes establishing an Opportunity Fund, which the party suggests could be financed by a 5% levy on company profits. This fund is supposed to replace the B-BBEE framework and focus on investments in education, entrepreneurship and infrastructure in disadvantaged communities. This is an opportunity for South Africans to develop solutions that can address the legacies of poverty, unemployment and racial inequalities. They can do so by unpacking the two interventions concerning their ability to address the challenges they continue to face. A key question to ask in that regard is how each of these announced interventions has the potential to deliver them from the shackles of poverty, unemployment and racial inequality. This they could achieve by, for example, interrogating the genesis of each intervention and if that genesis is in sync with their aspirations of a qualitative life in a democratic, non-racial South Africa. For example, as Tau points out that the Draft Transformation Fund is committed to redress driven by the B-BEE framework. This is important because B-BBEE is explicitly designed to redress the economic injustices caused by apartheid. To this end, it uses mechanisms such as black ownership, management control and preferential procurement to ensure that black South Africans gain meaningful participation in the economy. On the other hand, their identification of the BEE genesis and their affinity with it should not blind South Africans to some of the shortcomings experienced in the implementation of B-BBEE, such as corruption, as well as the continuing domination of the township economy by giant retailers in the form of shopping malls. They should, therefore, ask questions about how the fund is geared towards addressing these challenges. The most important factor in the whole assessment process is that they should not fall into the trap of conflating the need for B-BBEE as a tool to drive redress and economic transformation, and how it has so far been implemented. What is needed is an understanding that while B-BBEE has faced challenges, these are issues of implementation rather than principle. In assessing the ActionSA suggestion for the replacement of B-BBEE with an Opportunity Fund, it is important to ask how such an intervention would achieve social and economic justice. Simply investing in education, entrepreneurship, and infrastructure does not guarantee that black South Africans will have greater control over economic assets or decision-making power in the economy. Without mechanisms for ownership and management control, existing power structures and inequalities may persist.B-BBEE’s pillars of ownership, management, skills development and preferential procurement are designed to ensure that black South Africans are not just beneficiaries, but active participants and leaders in the economy. An opportunity fund that lacks these targeted measures risks becoming a generic development initiative, rather than a tool for justice and transformation. By efficiently supporting black-owned SMMEs through interventions such as preferential procurement and enterprise development, B-BBEE can help stimulate employment and innovation, thereby improving production and market expansion. This is the dream that all South Africans can make possible through their input to the Draft Transformation Fund. Such inputs should be about ensuring that the fund becomes an instrument that will contribute towards economic growth, the acceleration of equal economic participation by the historically disadvantaged, as well as maintaining and creating jobs that will alleviate poverty. • Ido Lekota is a veteran journalist ‘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/generic-development-plans-a-waste-of-time/

The Preferential Procurement element measures the way a Measured Entity procures goods and services from Suppliers. Another key point Indicator under the General Amended B-BBEE Codes of Good Practice is the spend on Suppliers that are at least 30% Black Women Owned based on the applicable B-BBEE Procurement Recognition Level. As per Schedule 1   of the General Amended B-BBEE Codes of Good Practice, 30% Black Women Owned is defined as: An Entity in which: (a)     Black Women hold at least 30% of the exercisable voting rights as determined under Code series 100; (b)    Black Women hold at least 30% of the economic interest as determined under Code series 100; and (c)     has earned all the points for Net Value under statement 100;   Enterprise & Supplier Development Services  are available to assist Members with analysing their Supply Chain from a B-BBEE perspective.

Youth Employment Service (Y.E.S) B-BBEE legislation   and the subsequent Practice Note 1 of 2018  are clear that expenditure for the initiative and Skills Development must remain independent of one another, which extends to administration costs. Clause 7 of the legislation references Informal Spend for Category F & G training initiatives featuring in the Skills Development Matrix which states:   “7.1 Informal Skills Development expenditure for Y.E.S employees will be recognised during the Verification Process of the Skills Development element under Amended Code Series 300, Statement 300. Y.E.S Measured Entities will be able to claim up to 50% of their Skills Development Spend as Informal Training (Category F and G of the Skills Development Matrix) against the Skills Development Scorecard”.   Further reference appears in clause 1.11 of the Practice Note:    “1.11 Y.E.S Measured Entities will be able to claim up to 50% of their Skills Development Spend as Informal Training (Category F and G of the Skills Development Matrix) against the Skills Development Scorecard for Y.E.S Eligible Employees only”.   Therefore, administration costs for Y.E.S Employees would fall under Preferential Procurement Spend and not Skills Development.   Y.E.S Management Services are available to assist members in understanding requirements under the Y.E.S Initiative.

Ethics, Skills, and Competence are at the top of the due diligence list when choosing a B-BBEE Rating Agency. Firstly, an organisation must ensure that they engage the services of a B-BBEE Rating Agency in line with the SANAS R47-03 document that does not allow B-BBEE Rating Agencies to provide B-BBEE Consulting Services. Secondly, organisations must ensure that their chosen B-BBEE Rating Agency allocates a team with the technical expertise to ensure the B-BBEE Verification process is smooth. Remember, an organisation is within their rights to request CVs & Profiles about the team undertaking their B-BBEE Verification. Members are welcome to engage The BEE Chamber to discuss how to go about selecting a B-BBEE Rating Agency .

Thabi Shomolekae | 28 May 2025 The Centre for Development and Enterprise (CDE) on Wednesday called for the proposed R100-billion Transformation Fund to be scrapped, saying it is “riddled with gaps, flawed assumptions, and implausible funding mechanisms”. Ahead of Wednesday’s deadline on submissions to the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition on government’s proposed R100-billion Transformation Fund, the CDE warns in its submissions that the fund is “a lose-lose proposition” that will fail to achieve its objectives. Government believes the fund will help improve the effectiveness of broad-based black economic empowerment (BBBEE) spending as it seeks to aggregate the funding that JSE-listed groups, State-owned enterprises and unlisted private companies spend collectively on enterprise and supplier development, as well as some of the funding multinationals direct towards equity equivalent schemes to secure their BBBEE compliance, without selling shares in their companies. CDE executive director Ann Bernstein believes that the implementation of the fund will undermine existing efforts to promote economic inclusion and actually harm black-owned firms involved in current supplier development value chains. She argues that the fund’s proposition is based on an inaccurate assessment of what transformation requires, and “an equally misguided belief in the State’s capacity to deliver it”. Bernstein highlights that the fund relies on “unsupported assumptions that access to finance is the key barrier for black-owned businesses, and that a centralised, State-managed mega-fund can somehow distribute vast sums effectively and offer mentorship, skills and other support to small enterprises”. She points instead to market access, poor infrastructure, a lack of demand for their goods and services, and lack of managerial capacity, saying these are the real obstacles that struggling black-owned businesses face. CDE’s submission against the fund also highlights governance risks associated with establishing a centralised fund to undertake a wide range of complex and high-risk activities. Bernstein says it is “inconceivable” that a single organisation can deliver grants, loans, technical support, training, and market access across all industries, cities, townships and rural areas effectively and efficiently. She says she finds the proposal surprisingly “vague and lacking” in the most basic information needed to assess its viability, noting that it is unclear what kind of fund this is, what it is meant to do, or how it will be structured. “There is no detail on whether this is a capital endowment or a spend-down fund, how success will be measured, how many businesses it aims to support and what kind of support is envisaged,” she notes. Bernstein warns that if the fund fails to attract sufficient voluntary contributions, government may resort to making these contributions compulsory, as suggested in the draft document. “This would be equivalent to imposing a new tax on corporate profits. This would lead to lower levels of investment, fewer jobs, and ultimately less support for black-owned businesses – the very opposite of what transformation should achieve,” Bernstein cautions. She highlights that instead of pushing ahead with an “ill-conceived mega-fund”, CDE is urging a major rethink of transformation policy, noting that South Africa needs accelerated growth that is far more inclusive. CDE recommends that an independent panel of economists, legal experts, business leaders, and civil society representatives lead a comprehensive review of BBBEE policy and its outcomes.  “If we are serious about building a fast-growing, inclusive economy with a massive expansion of opportunities for all those millions of people who are excluded, we need effective approaches to transformation that build on the country’s strengths and do not double down on failure,” she says. ‘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/cde-warns-transformation-fund-is-flawed-calls-for-its-scrapping-2025-05-28

Armand Bam | 29 May 2025 Elon Musk, the world’s wealthiest African-born man and, arguably, its most confident beneficiary of generational advantage, recently called South Africa’s broad-based black economic empowerment (broad-based BEE) policy “racist” — a sentiment increasingly echoed by some local South Africans who view redress through the distorted lens of personal grievance rather than historical responsibility. It’s a statement so steeped in irony that even the ghosts of apartheid must be laughing — if not weeping. That is, the architects of apartheid — men like Hendrik Verwoerd, BJ Vorster and PW Botha who designed a nation around racial exclusion, the systems they built that still shape land ownership, education and capital, and the moral stain they left on South Africa’s collective conscience, might themselves find it darkly amusing that a billionaire born into their system now claims to be a victim of the modest policies intended to redress their legacy. For context, broad-based BEE is a constitutional corrective measure aimed at broadening economic participation in a country where, until 1994, economic exclusion was state policy, not an unfortunate oversight. In contrast, apartheid’s architecture was unapologetically and systematically racist: the Population Registration Act, Group Areas Act, Bantu Education Act and job reservation laws didn’t merely discriminate; they surgically engineered white economic dominance. That dominance is precisely what broad-based BEE seeks to rebalance. Musk’s claim is not only historically tone deaf, it is philosophically disingenuous. To cry “racism” in response to redress is to mistake rebalancing for reversal. And it reveals a more unsettling truth — when you’ve been standing on a platform your whole life, equality can feel like a step down. One wonders whether Musk, who is never short on opinions or ambition, has ever considered the ancient logic of Aristotle or, more pointedly, whether he and others are inclined to understand it. Writing in Nicomachean Ethics , Aristotle argued that “equals should be treated equally, and unequals unequally in proportion to their inequality”. In South Africa, we are not grappling with parity, but with the structural residue of engineered inequality. Redress, then, is not discrimination, it is moral logic. Put simply, treating equals equally means giving everyone the same treatment when they are in the same position. But when people have been treated unequally for generations, justice requires a different approach — one that corrects the imbalance. That’s why fairness doesn’t always mean treating everyone the same, it means helping those who’ve been disadvantaged to reach the same starting line. And what of those South Africans comfortably situated, well-educated and often beneficiaries of generational advantage who argue that “it wasn’t our generation” who created apartheid, so why should “they” be burdened with its legacy? To them, the question must be returned — if you did not build the house, but you live in it, benefit from it and defend it against renovation, are you not still responsible for its condition?  Historical accountability is not about guilt, it is about participation in repair. Justice is not a backward-looking punishment, it is a forward-looking commitment to shared dignity — our collective dignity. To be clear, the failure of broad-based BEE to deliver broad-based empowerment lies not in its intention, but in its execution. The ANC-led government bears responsibility for allowing elite capture, fronting and narrow enrichment to undermine what was meant to be a structural rebalancing. Instead of building inclusive economic capacity, it too often reinforced patronage networks.  But if the ANC eroded trust through dysfunction, the Democratic Alliance is deepening public suspicion by challenging the constitutionality of the broad-based BEE Act in court. Rather than proposing viable alternatives for redress, the party’s actions risk signalling that any attempt to correct historical injustice is, by default, unjust to those who benefited from it. Yet, in typical Musk fashion, his intervention in South African discourse lacks nuance and arrives via tweet. One moment, he decries broad-based BEE, the next, he tweets an old video of Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema, as if to say: “ S ee? This is the real threat.” It’s a lazy pivot, to be honest. Shifting the conversation from the facts of structural injustice to the spectacle of populist provocation.  Malema’s often incendiary “kill the boer” rhetoric is indeed unhelpful, especially in a country still healing from generational trauma. It risks reinforcing fear and feeding narratives that sidestep the real work of transformation. But, to conflate Malema’s performance politics with the foundational purpose of broad-based BEE is to mistake smoke for fire. It’s not justice Musk is afraid of, it’s the rebalancing of power. And all of this plays out while Starlink, Musk’s satellite internet venture, is reportedly making renewed efforts to gain access to the South African market. But, instead of partnering with black-owned enterprises, as required under broad-based BEE regulations, the strategy seems to favour proxy arrangements and regulatory pressure.  It’s the familiar formula — enter the economy, but avoid transformation. Musk’s approach to broad-based BEE appears to mirror his business logic — reach the underserved, but on his terms, not the country’s. The irony is staggering — decrying exclusion while resisting the very instruments designed to ensure inclusive access. broad-based BEE does not criminalise whiteness. It does not confiscate. It does not exclude based on race, it includes based on disadvantage. It offers no favours, only a fairer footing in a race some were never allowed to enter. To call that “racist” is to eat at the table apartheid set for you and complain when someone else is finally offered a chair. Yes, broad-based BEE is imperfect. Its implementation has suffered under the weight of bureaucracy, political opportunism and elite capture. But, its necessity remains unquestionable unless, of course, one believes that justice should come without cost or inconvenience to those who benefited from injustice. Ultimately, this moment calls for a different kind of leadership; one that is not afraid of complexity, discomfort or delayed gratification. South Africa does not need leaders who weaponise redress for political capital, nor those who reduce structural injustice to soundbites.  We need leaders who are historically literate, morally grounded and publicly accountable. We need leaders who understand that economic transformation is not a populist slogan nor a corporate box-tick, but a long-term act of national repair. In the face of inherited inequality, true leadership demands not defensiveness but responsibility. Elon Musk’s wealth may well fund the future. But his view on broad-based BEE reminds us that history has a peculiar way of repeating itself, especially when the powerful feel discomforted by equality. Justice in South Africa was never going to be comfortable. But if the price of transformation is that a few billionaires feel momentarily uneasy, it is a price well worth paying. ‘Disclaimer - The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://mg.co.za/thought-leader/2025-05-29-elon-musk-and-the-irony-of-calling-black-economic-empowerment-racist/

Babalo Ndenze | 29 May 2025 The party made the call in Parliament on Thursday, while presenting its alternatives to the Transformation Fund, which is being championed by Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau. CAPE TOWN - The Democratic Alliance (DA) wants an independent review of the country’s broad-based black economic empowerment (BBBEE) legislation with the view to scrapping the law. The party said that the legislation merely recycled and enriched the same "tycoons" and people that weren’t disadvantaged, and could not stay in its current form. The party made the call in Parliament on Thursday, while presenting its alternatives to the Transformation Fund, which is being championed by Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau. The DA said it rejected the Transformation Fund as another failed BBBEE scheme that enriched the elite and not workers. The party released its submission to the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition’s Transformation Fund on Thursday, offering its alternatives. DA trade spokesperson, Toby Chance, said the fund blocked growth by focusing on race instead of investment or jobs. He also recommended changes to BBBEE legislation and a new approach to transformation. "So, in specific terms, we are recommending an independent review of the BBBEE legislation and regulations with a focus on impact on economic growth and job creation." He said that two recent surveys showed how South Africans were moving away from BEE and don’t believe the government should continue pushing the policy. ‘Disclaimer - The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the BEE CHAMBER’. https://www.ewn.co.za/2025/05/29/da-wants-independent-review-of-bbbee-legislation-with-view-to-scrapping-law

Stephen Grootes | 28 May 2025 For reasons involving both the Trump administration and the inclusion of the DA and the FF+ in our national coalition, the issue of BEE is again becoming increasingly prominent. President Cyril Ramaphosa’s robust defence of BEE suggests there could be an important political fight in the offing, while proposals from the Department of Mineral Resources suggest some in government will not retreat. On Tuesday, President Cyril Ramaphosa told Parliament he would not back down from the implementation of BEE, attacking those who oppose it. He said BEE was not holding back the economy, but rather that the concentrated nature of our economy was. He also defended using racial designations (that have their roots in apartheid and the National Party’s Race Classification Act of 1950) as a means to do this (although he also said he does believe the day will come when this is no longer necessary). On the same day, Communications Minister Solly Malatsi (of the DA) was explaining to MPs why he would no longer require satellite services such as Starlink to give up some of their ownership for a license to operate here. At the same time, as previously mentioned , the political forces that oppose BEE have become much stronger in the past few months. That the DA is now in government (and has a deputy minister in the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition) and US President Donald Trump’s assault on race-based redress means this issue is becoming much more contested. In some ways, an attempt to redress the problems of our past, which have created our racialised inequality, is always going to be controversial. Considering that BEE includes measures that give preference to people of a particular race, it is almost surprising that we do not argue about it more. It goes to the heart of the South African project and is enshrined in our Constitution. For the moment, it seems that Ramaphosa, and others, may well be energised by this opposition. If you have benefited from a practice (as Ramaphosa and others have), you will defend it. There is plenty of evidence that people in the ANC, leaders both current and former, have benefited from BEE. This has become one of the strongest criticisms against it, that it is only because of their political links that some people have been made very wealthy. The DA has always been aware that much of its constituency opposes BEE. Even white people who agree with racial redress are allowed to feel frustrated when they are passed over for promotions, or their firms are ignored in certain deals, just because of their race. It may also create a situation where people, both white and black, feel they are not getting the deals or making the money they should, just because of their racial identity. While white people might blame BEE when their firms do not get deals, black people might well feel they are ignored because they are not part of the right network, or because decision-makers reward those who look the most like them. This can then allow everyone to blame factors other than their own competence or ability when they do not get what they aspire to. Those from the ANC who are in government also appear prepared to further extend the practice. Doubling down Recent proposed changes to the Mineral Resources Development Act, coming from the ministry headed by ANC chair Gwede Mantashe, go further than ever in demanding BEE – and some of its suggestions do not appear to make sense. For example, the draft suggests the mineral resources minister would have to be consulted before there is a change of ownership in a mining company. As mining lawyer Peter Leon told The Money Show on Tuesday evening, it would mean that companies listed on foreign exchanges, or owned by foreign nationals, would need permission to sell their companies, or stakes in them. Critics of the proposals (and there are many) suggest this has never happened anywhere. Also, it would insist that there be an empowerment partner just for a prospecting right. In other words, just for the right to see if a possible mineral deposit is economically viable to mine, a black person would have to be given a stake. This would increase the cost of prospecting and make it less likely that people will invest here. The Minerals Council also says that all its suggestions on the issue were ignored. If this is the case, why did the ministry bother speaking to the council at all? This might well indicate that the ministry, and perhaps the minister, do not care for the views of the industry, and that they intend to impose these changes. As our mining industry has shrunk, many people have made the point that among the reasons for this is simply government policy (and yet mining still matters. During the pandemic, it was royalties from the high price of our platinum that for a time helped to pay for the SRD grant). It may well be possible that some in the ANC would relish a fight with the DA on this issue. Like the National Health Insurance, it can be useful for both parties. It allows them to remind their constituencies why they should vote for them. Considering that the axis of our politics may be moving away from race in some ways, this could be very important for the ANC, which is looking for a reason to remind people to stay with the party. New opposition Meanwhile, it is clear that Ramaphosa is correct to remind us of the high levels of concentration in our economy. In 2021, the Competition Commission found that “of the 144 sectors of the economy examined by the study, 69.5% were found to be highly concentrated, with 40.3% of sectors being highly concentrated with a presumptively dominant firm. Only 9.7% of sectors were found to have unconcentrated markets.” This is staggering, and a reminder of how little our economy has changed in some respects since 1994. It also confirms the thesis of those who believe our country is divided into “insiders” and “outsiders” and how difficult moving “inside” the economy has become. While many things need to be done to grow our economy, finding ways to change this concentration might be one. In the meantime, the real political risk to BEE does not come from the DA or people who lose out from the practice. The opposition will come from people who stand to benefit from it. There may be a slow change under way that suggests more people are now beginning to oppose it. Professor William Gumede has recently outlined why he believes BEE is harming our economy , while others, such as ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba (and former chair of the Free Market Foundation), have always criticised it. Often, the main critique from these voices, and others, is that the same politically connected individuals have benefited again and again. The perception, created entirely by the ANC, that there can be some kind of link between BEE and cadre deployment, might well cause more damage to the perception of BEE than anything else. But to many millions of people in our country, the argument around BEE is almost meaningless. They do not ever hope to have ownership in any company, or even control over who does. They simply want a job, to create a sustainable income for themselves and their families. As the coalition keeps promising to create jobs, questions about whether BEE really does harm our economy will become more prominent for some time to come. ‘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/2025-05-28-bee-the-beginning-of-a-new-phase-in-an-old-fight-thanks-to-trump-and-ramaphosa/

Thabo Mashongoane | 28 May 2025 The employment equity regulations can be seen as a catalyst for investment, in people, institutions and long-term prosperity. SA has reached a critical moment in its transformation journey. The newly gazetted employment equity (EE) regulations — designed to increase representation across sectors by 2030 — mark an important step towards a more inclusive economy. But achieving these ambitious targets will require more than compliance checklists or short-term fixes. It demands a deep and sustained investment in skills development.  After more than 40 years in vocational education and training — and as someone who began their own career as an artisan — I’ve seen that transformation not rooted in skills is unsustainable. Equity cannot exist in a vacuum. It must be underpinned by a deliberate, co-ordinated approach to workforce development, especially in technically demanding sectors such as mining and manufacturing.  For companies navigating the EE landscape the starting point should be a robust human resource development strategy. This means going beyond demographic targets to assess training pipelines, internal capacity and future role readiness. EE cannot be reduced to hiring statistics — it must be about enabling South Africans to grow within their roles and industries.  At the Mining Qualifications Authority (MQA) our learnerships, internships and artisan development programmes are delivering real results. Feedback from the Minerals Council SA and other stakeholders confirms that our interventions are helping mines improve productivity, accelerate onboarding and, crucially, reduce workplace incidents. When workers are properly trained  — both theoretically and practically — safety improves, and so does operational performance. This is not abstract policy; it’s a lived reality in mining operations across the country.  Admittedly, the EE targets present a challenge — particularly in industries historically shaped by exclusion. In many eyes mining remains a male-dominated and physically demanding space. But that’s changing. Automation, digitisation and innovation are redefining work on the ground. Roles once reliant on strength now require analytical and digital expertise. This shift creates an opportunity to welcome more women, people with disabilities and youth into the sector — not as token hires but as geologists, engineers and safety specialists equipped to lead the industry forward.  That’s why the technical & vocational education & training (TVET) system is so critical to our future. At MQA we invest more than R250,000 annually to support students in TVET institutions. And yet vocational education continues to be seen as second-tier to university pathways. This mindset must shift. For every engineer in the mining value chain the sector needs up to 15 artisans. These are the people who keep operations running, maintain safety standards and apply innovations in real time. Elevating TVET colleges, properly resourcing them and embedding them in workforce planning is not just good policy, it’s a national imperative.  Transformation will not be achieved in silos. Meeting the 2030 EE targets requires co-ordination across government, industry, the Sector Education & Training Authorities (Setas), and educational institutions. Encouragingly, platforms like the Seta Sectoral Integrated Human Resource Development Strategy are beginning to bridge these divides, allowing knowledge and capacity to flow across sectors. For smaller employers without the infrastructure to develop talent pipelines alone, these kinds of partnerships will be essential.  At MQA our mission is not only to drive demographic change, it’s to build competence, safety and dignity across the mining workforce. Our vision is a responsive system that understands the evolving demands of the sector, prepares workers for modern roles, and reduces the human cost of undertraining.  Let us not view the new EE regulations as a compliance burden. Let us embrace them as a catalyst for investment, in people, institutions and long-term prosperity. When transformation is powered by skills it moves from a policy goal to a lived economic reality.  ‘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.businesslive.co.za/bd/opinion/2025-05-28-thabo-mashongoane-why-skills-must-lead-the-transformation-agenda/

Small, Medium, and Micro-sized Enterprises (SMMEs) are an aspect of the South African economy that should not be overlooked or ignored. They play a key role in driving economic growth, job creation and encouraging and promoting inclusivity. When we look at SMMEs from a Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment  (B-BBEE) perspective, they hold significant value as catalysts for transformation and Socio-Economic Development.   The Role of SMMEs in Economic Transformation SMMEs are an integral part of the transformation objectives of South Africa, especially in redressing historical economic disparities. They provide Black People with an opportunity to enter the formal economy, create employment opportunities for others and stimulate local economic activity. Supporting and empowering SMMEs can allow South Africa to diversify its economic base and reduce dependency on traditional sectors. The Value of SMMEs in B-BBEE Initiatives B-BBEE recognises the critical role that SMMEs play in achieving their objectives of B-BBEE. Small businesses contribute directly to achieving B-BBEE Scorecard targets, particularly the Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD ) element.   Through ESD initiatives, larger businesses are given an avenue to support the growth and sustainability of SMMEs, which allows them to enhance their B-BBEE Score while also building a more inclusive and diverse business environment.   Empowering SMMEs through the Youth Employment Service (Y.E.S) Initiative One of the standout initiatives that can help grow SMMEs is the Y.E.S Initiative . This programme specifically targets the challenge of youth unemployment by creating jobs within SMMEs. When businesses participate in the YES programme, they not only contribute to social upliftment but also improve their B-BBEE Score. This mutually beneficial relationship between SMMEs and initiatives like the YES programme underscores the broader socio-economic impact that small businesses can have when effectively supported and integrated into national development strategies.   The Purpose of SMMEs in Socio-Economic Development When we look beyond the economic contributions of SMMEs, they also play a part in advancing Socio-Economic Development . They act as drivers of innovation; they promote healthy business competition and help improve service delivery in various sectors. In addition, they play a role in addressing unemployment, particularly among the youth and marginalised communities where they can offer entry-level jobs and skills building opportunities.   Challenges and Opportunities Despite their significance, SMMEs in South Africa face numerous challenges, which include limited access to finance, skills shortages, regulatory complexities, market access barriers as well as mentorship. When we address these challenges, we should look at collaborative efforts between the public & private sector stakeholders and other support organisations to create an enabling environment for SMME growth and sustainability.   SMMEs are not only economic entities, but they are also agents of transformation and empowerment in South Africa. Their role in advancing B-BBEE goals, promoting economic inclusivity, and driving Socio-Economic Development cannot be overstated. As stakeholders continue to recognise and support SMMEs, the country can harness their full potential to build a more equitable and prosperous future for all.