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Articles by Gideon Gerber
Important further amendments to the B-BBEE Codes of Good Practice
With the Department of Trade and Industry having been combined with that of Economic Development By Gideon Gerber The former minister of Trade and Industry – Rob Davies – has been replaced with Ebrahim Patel. As one of his last official duties, Davies saw the Amended B-BBEE Codes of Good Practice being gazetted on 31 May 2019.
Eskilz College - Top Empowerment Awards finalist
Navigating the Tricky Path Towards BEE Compliance Navigating complex BEE requirements to ensure compliancy can be a tricky process for many businesses. Since the implementation of BEE in 2003, there have been many high-profile cases of companies found to have faked their BEE credentials and many who have failed their verification audits for other reasons.
New e-Waste Service Offering for Leading Waste Management Company EnviroServ
Explore Our Directory Of Certified Business Partners 08 Apr 2019 New e-Waste Service Offering for Leading Waste Management Company EnviroServ By: Enviroserv ABC of BEE EnviroServ has become a one-stop-shop, offering both waste and e-waste services to assist companies throughout South Africa with compliant asset disposal of all end-of-term IT and electronic equipment.
Navigating the Tricky Path Towards BEE Compliance
BEE On the National Agenda Navigating complex BEE requirements to ensure compliancy can be a tricky process for many businesses. Since the implementation of BEE in 2003, there have been many high-profile cases of companies found to have faked their BEE credentials and many who have failed their verification audits for other reasons. The unfortunate reality is that faked credentials are not a victimless crime.
B-BBEE Compliance and Related Entities By Gideon Gerber
Explore Our Directory Of Certified Business Partners 05 Apr 2019 B-BBEE Compliance and Related Entities Written By Gideon Gerber By: Serr Synergy ABC of BEE Various businesses presently use a related company within a group of companies for B-BBEE-compliance purposes, or had set up a related company for the purpose of assisting with the B-BBEE compliance of an established (normally non-compliant) company.
The YES programme, an unsung hero of youth job creation
The main driver of the YES programme are the incentives participating enterprises will receive in terms of B-BBEE compliance levels. Participating enterprises can be enhanced up to two levels on their B-BBEE scorecards and certificates. The programme was not immediately available for enterprises as the B-BBEE Codes had to be amended to make provision for their incorporation into the B-BBEE Codes of Good Practice. In March, the draft amendments to the B-BBEE Codes were published for public comment.
BEE MATTERS: Empowerment scorecard no respite for small enterprises
When the Department of Trade and Industry announced a more lenient scorecard for qualifying small enterprises with an annual turnover below R50m in May 2015, everyone thought it would relieve the pressure on them. But it has not. These businesses are only excluded from completing a scorecard if they have at least a 51% black ownership. An increasing number of state departments, municipalities and big corporates require a black ownership component to be considered as a supplier.
BEE MATTERS: Some ways to fund fees without gaps or taxes
BEE MATTERS: Some ways to fund fees without gaps or taxes BEE MATTERS: Some ways to fund fees without gaps or taxes INEQUALITY and poverty are core to the current student uprising. Section 9 of the Constitution deals with the concept of equality and restitutionary measures. Judge Dikgang Moseneke provided valuable guidance in a judgment against the backdrop of equality in "a society deeply divided, vastly unequal and uncaring of human worth".
BEE MATTERS: Plan ahead to avoid being blind-sided in unpredictable realm of sector charters
BEE MATTERS: Plan ahead to avoid being blind-sided in unpredictable realm of sector charters BEE MATTERS: Plan ahead to avoid being blind-sided in unpredictable realm of sector charters NOTHING stays the same. This saying is accurate when applied to business owners in SA who need to adapt constantly to an ever-changing environment in the pursuit of remaining profitable and being entrepreneurial.
BEE MATTERS: BEE verification gets stricter as IRBA pulls out
BEE MATTERS: BEE verification gets stricter as IRBA pulls out BEE MATTERS: BEE verification gets stricter as IRBA pulls out EARLIER this year, the Independent Regulatory Board for Auditors (IRBA) indicated its desire to withdraw as the regulatory body for agencies issuing black economic empowerment (BEE) verification certificates. On August 2 all its agents were informed that this role would end on December 31.
BEE MATTERS: Finding the right BEE partner is no easy ride
BEE MATTERS: Finding the right BEE partner is no easy ride BEE MATTERS: Finding the right BEE partner is no easy ride IN THE past, very few companies were compelled to have black ownership to be considered for business and supplier contracts. The mining and petroleum industries were the exception and their black ownership requirements were stipulated by the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act and the Mining Charter.
BEE MATTERS: Mismanaged Setas squander business money
THE July Quarterly Labour Force Survey highlighted unemployment challenges SA faces. The average unemployment rate of young people, which has more than doubled over the past 10 years, has been the topic of many discussions. Unemployment is also central to discussions about a possible credit and sovereign downgrade of the country, the prospects for economic growth, and other economic permutations.
BEE MATTERS: Thriving start-ups a boon for everyone
ONE of the primary aims of growing the economy is to include more black people. Current black economic empowerment (BEE) policy is aimed at training and developing the skills of black people to gain employment and to progress in the working environment.
BEE MATTERS: White-owned firms should consider BEE options
THE recently published new procurement regulations for government, which require that at least 30% of all tenders and 30% of subcontracting be allocated to small and black-owned companies, have once again prompted white-owned businesses to reconsider their ownership composition. Many companies are urged to find solutions immediately in respect of ownership, or face the daunting prospect of losing out on business.
BEE MATTERS: Economic reality and equity plan are irreconcilable
HOT on the heels of the Commission for Employment Equity’s announcement about the disappointing absorption of black people into management positions in the private sector, very dismal unemployment figures were released by Statistics SA. The unemployment rate has risen from about 25% to more than 27%. These figures do not include people who have given up on finding employment. If they were included, the unemployment figure would rise to 35%.
BEE MATTERS: Employment equity policies not producing
THE Employment Equity Commission recently released the National Employment Equity Report, which indicates that white people, and in particular white males, still dominate the management echelon in the private sector. White people take up about 70% of all management positions, while they represent only about 10% of the economically active population. This is in stark contrast to the public sector, where 70% of management positions are taken up by black people.
BEE MATTERS: Businesses need to plan meticulously to meet new BEE codes
BEE MATTERS: Businesses need to plan meticulously to meet new BEE codes BEE MATTERS: Businesses need to plan meticulously to meet new BEE codes THE new black economic empowerment (BEE) codes are making significant inroads in the quest to transform the economy. With higher overall targets and the prioritisation of certain fundamental elements, these new codes are regarded as the "sharpening of transformation tools" by policy makers.
BEE MATTERS: How can BEE score goals if goalposts move?
BEE MATTERS: How can BEE score goals if goalposts move? BEE MATTERS: How can BEE score goals if goalposts move? DEPUTY President Cyril Ramaphosa’s address to black professionals in Sandton on March 25 was assertive and confusing. He said that SA’s economy had for too long been controlled by white people and "this has to end". If you don’t like it, "tough for you".
BEE MATTERS: Transformation policy failing those in need
BEE MATTERS: Transformation policy failing those in need BEE MATTERS: Transformation policy failing those in need TRANSFORMATION is integral to virtually all spheres of society including the political, economic, social and sports spheres. It’s like the devil: it gets blamed for everything. In the recent complaints about "state capture", the transformation ball gets kicked around.
BEE MATTERS: BEE starts running into flak from private sector
THE implementation and interpretation of the total spectrum of black economic empowerment (BEE) legislation is entering an interesting phase. The functionaries and executives in the government over the years have had their own ideas and often interpreted rules in ways that are not reconcilable with the rule of law.
Is transformation behind economic growth setback?
In the current economic climate, everyone’s focus is on preventing a further rating downgrade, and all resources are being channelled into this. The government, which up until now regarded itself as the only policy maker in the room, has been forced to put its tail ever so slightly between its legs and join hands with the private sector to get SA out of its economic tangle. This suggests that the government could refrain from putting too much fuel behind sensitive policies, such as transformation.
BEE MATTERS: Is transformation behind economic growth setback?
IN THE current economic climate, everyone’s focus is on preventing a further rating downgrade, and all resources are being channelled into this. The government, which up until now regarded itself as the only policy maker in the room, has been forced to put its tail ever so slightly between its legs and join hands with the private sector to get SA out of its economic tangle. This suggests that the government could refrain from putting too much fuel behind sensitive policies, such as transformation.
BEE MATTERS: Adopting students one way in which to earn BEE points
BEE MATTERS: Adopting students one way in which to earn BEE points BEE MATTERS: Adopting students one way in which to earn BEE points THE re-alignment of business in SA to broadly represent the country’s racial demographics and allow for a more inclusive system of economic participation and financial sustainability is taking centre stage in all politics.
BEE MATTERS: Small businesses stand to profit from BEE criteria
THIS is an excellent time for small businesses to promote themselves to larger businesses to let them know how they can earn black economic empowerment (BEE) scorecard points. Small businesses, referred to in the BEE codes as exempted microenterprises, with an annual turnover of up to R10m are exempt from requirements of the BEE scorecard and for an empowering supplier.
BEE MATTERS: Tweaks to BEE codes have big effect on small firms
BEE MATTERS: Tweaks to BEE codes have big effect on small firms BEE MATTERS: Tweaks to BEE codes have big effect on small firms NOW that companies are being measured in terms of the new broad-based black economic empowerment (BEE) codes, it is important to find out what the new scorecard levels mean, because the compliance downgrading of businesses is more dramatic than initially thought.
BEE MATTERS: Compliance should not wait until next year
BEE MATTERS: Compliance should not wait until next year BEE MATTERS: Compliance should not wait until next year AS WE approach the end of the year, business owners generally want to put projects on hold and close or slow down. The general mood is that whatever is still outstanding can wait for the new year and few are prepared to pick themselves up mentally for anything substantial now. However, shifting black economic empowerment (BEE) to next year’s to-do list could be to a business’s detriment.
BEE MATTERS: Unlock skills funds for tertiary education
THE higher benchmark for training and skills development set by the new black economic empowerment (BEE) codes may provide an ideal solution to help fund tertiary education. If entities were allowed to donate portions of their skills development spend to existing student assistance funds, they could earn BEE points and be allowed to claim the section 12H tax allowances. No additional "wealth tax" would be needed.
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