BBBEE Codes Explained
BBBEE Codes Explained
© 2018 Werksmans Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may
AND CODES Amendments to the BBBEE Act and the Codes Explained is the source. This
Guide is not a substitute for legal, financial or any other advice. If you require
particular information you are advised to consult with a qualified attorney.
EXPLAINED While every care has been taken to ensure the information in this Guide is
accurate as at 15 June 2018, Werksmans Inc. shall not be held liable for any
harm caused by any error or loss suffered as a result.
02 INTRODUCTION
06 GLOSSARY
07 CONTACT DETAILS
TABLE OF CONTENTS | 1
01
BACKGROUND
TO THE GUIDE
The Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Act 53 of 2003 (“BBBEE Act”) provides
the legislative framework for Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (“BBBEE”) in
South Africa. Codes of Good Practice may be issued by the Minister of Trade and Industry
under the BBBEE Act and such Codes may be “generic” (i.e. of general application) or
apply to a specific sector of the economy (so called sector codes that are developed
by stakeholders in the relevant sector). The current “generic” Codes of Good Practice
(“Codes”) were published on 11 October 2013 and came into effect on 1 May 2015.
Certain amendments to the Codes have been proposed by the Minister of Trade and
Industry for public comment by 28 May 2018. As at the publication date of this Guide,
the final form of the amendments is not clear.
The primary purpose of the BBBEE Act and the Codes is to address the legacy of apartheid
and promote the economic participation of Black People in the South African economy.
Please refer to the definition of “Black People” in the glossary at the end of this Guide.
The purpose of this Guide is to provide you with a basic understanding of the legal
framework for BBBEE and its importance and implications for your business.
When reading this Guide, please refer to the glossary of defined terms at the end
of this Guide.
The BBBEE Act and the Codes are a powerful expression of the Government’s policy
to actively promote and implement BBBEE. The manner in which a firm applies BBBEE
in its business is effectively left for the individual firm to decide and the BBBEE Act
and Codes do not impose legal obligations on firms to comply with specific BBBEE targets.
The Codes simply provide a methodology for measuring a firm’s BBBEE rating and the
targets in the Codes are not legally binding (BBBEE points may still be scored on a
pro-rata basis if the targets are not met). However, a firm’s BBBEE status is an important
factor affecting its ability to successfully tender for Government and public entity tenders,
and (in certain sectors like mining and gaming) to obtain licences. Private sector clients
also increasingly require their suppliers to have a minimum BBBEE rating in order to
boost their own BBBEE ratings.
02 INTRODUCTION | 5
03
THE BBBEE ACT
> oversee, supervise and promote adherence to the BBBEE Act in the interest of the
public, and strengthen and foster collaboration between the public and private
sectors to promote and safeguard the objectives of BBBEE;
> maintain a registry of major BBBEE ownership transactions. Such transactions with
a “Transaction Value” equal to or exceeding R25 million must be registered with
the Commission within fifteen days of concluding the transaction. Although the
Commission’s approval is not required, the Commission may (but is not obliged),
within ninety days after the registration date, assess and advise the parties in writing
of any BBBEE concerns it has about the transaction. The Commission may initiate an
investigation if its concerns are not remedied within a reasonable period. Advisory
opinion services are provided by the Commission;
> receive and investigate complaints relating to BBBEE and, on its own initiative, investigate
any matter relating to BBBEE. Several cases have been and are being investigated by
the Commission and in practice these investigations have primarily related to so-called
fronting practices (please see the glossary at the end of this Guide for the definition) and
other contraventions of the BBBEE Act. The Commission has wide ranging investigative
powers including subpoena powers and the right to apply to Court to restrain a breach
of the BBBEE Act and/or a fronting practice. The Commission is not empowered by the
BBBEE Act to impose a penalty or other criminal sanctions, but it is obliged in terms
of the BBBEE Act to refer a matter to the National Prosecuting Authority or the South
African Police Service if it is of the view that it may involve a criminal offence in terms of
the BBBEE Act or any other law. It may also refer a matter to the South African Revenue
Services and/or any applicable regulatory authority. The Commission may publish its
findings and recommendations once any judicial review and/or criminal proceedings
have been finalised.
> engages in a “fronting practice” (please see the glossary at the end of this Guide for
the definition).
> introduces a statutory right for the Government and public entities to cancel any
contract or “authorisation” awarded due to “knowingly” furnished false information
on a firm’s BBBEE status;
> imposes an absolute obligation on Government and public entities to apply the Codes
(or a relevant sector code) in their procurement policies and qualification criteria
for licences and authorisations, and for entering public private partnerships;
> imposes an obligation on entities listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange to report
to the Commission on their compliance with BBBEE.
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9
04
10
BBBEE STATUS
IN TERMS OF
THE CODES
TOTAL 118
The threshold for being a Qualifying Small Enterprise (“QSE”) is an annual total revenue of
between R10 million and R50 million. The BBBEE status of QSEs is measured by reference
to all five BBBEE elements in terms of a specific scorecard for QSEs in the Codes.
Firms with an annual total revenue of R50 million or more are classified as Large Enterprises.
EMEs and QSEs that are 100% Black-owned are deemed to have a Level 1 BBBEE status,
and EMEs and QSEs that are 51% Black-owned are deemed to have a Level 2 BBBEE status.
This is a significant advantage over other EMEs and QSEs.1
EMEs and QSEs no longer need a certificate from a BBBEE verification agent to confirm
their BBBEE status. All that is required is an affidavit certifying its total annual income and
level of Black ownership. 2 This saves costs for all EMEs and QSEs.
> 40% of the “net value” targets for the ownership element. “Net value” measures the
“debt free” portion of the BBBEE ownership of a firm and provides targets for repayment
of the BBBEE shareholder’s acquisition debt over 10 years;
> 40% of the total weighting points for the skills development element;
> 40% for each of the three subcategories of the enterprise and supplier development
element (being preferential procurement, supplier development and enterprise
development).
1 Amendments proposed to the Codes in March 2018 provide that the deemed BBBEE status will only apply if the 51% or 100%
shareholding is based on the flow through principle, i.e. having regard to actual black ownership only. It has also been proposed that
the deemed BBBEE status will apply for 51% and 100% Black-owned Large Enterprises (again based on the flow through principle).
Financial targets for entities qualifying for the Youth Employment Service (Y.E.S) Initiative have been proposed, which if met would
increase the firm’s BBBEE status. The amendments have as at the publication date of this Guide not been finalised.
2 Amendments proposed to the Codes in March 2018 provide that a certificate confirming turnover issued by the Companies
and Intellectual Property Commission is sufficient for EMEs. The amendments have as at the publication date of this Guide
not been finalised.
If a Large Enterprise fails to comply with all three of the sub-minimum requirements, its
BBBEE status will automatically be downgraded by one level. In other words, if its score would
otherwise have been Level 4, it will automatically be downgraded to Level 5. The downgrade
is punitive as it applies regardless of the reasons for the failure to comply (i.e. there is no
exception or defence).
The automatic downgrade will also apply to a QSE, which does not comply with the
sub-minimum requirement for ownership and either one of the skills development
or enterprise and supplier development elements.
Amended Property
Sector Code published
9 June 2017
14
No. Sector Code Draft Estimated Expiry of Date of
Publication Consultation Period Commencement
Date (60 days, unless
otherwise specified)
7 Chartered Repealed on No draft has
Accountancy 17 February 2016 been published
16
Annexure A
SCORECARDS FOR
THE ELEMENTS
OF BBBEE
5.1 Ownership3
Black participants in
Cooperatives
New Entrants7 2 2%
3 There are detailed provisions dealing with the methodology for measuring BBBEE ownership.
4 These are defined as certain unemployed Black People, Black youth, Black People with disabilities, Black People living in rural and under
developed areas and Black military veterans.
5 The Codes contain detailed requirements for these programmes.
6 The Codes contain detailed requirements for these schemes.
7 New Entrants are defined as Black participants who have not held equity instruments in other entities with a total value of more than
R50 million. Amendments proposed to the Codes in June 2018 amend the definition of New Entrants by deleting the words “other
Entities” and replacing such with “any Entity”. The amendments have as at the publication date of this Guide not been finalised.
The concept of “Once Empowered Always Empowered” raised in the
context of the Mining BBBEE Charter is not recognised in the BBBEE Act
or the Codes. However, in terms of the Codes, a firm may continue to score
BBBEE ownership points after the sale or loss of shares by a Black Person
subject to complying with the following:
> such Black Person has held the shares for a minimum period of three years;
> “net value” must have been created in the hands of Black People (this measures the
repayment of the acquisition debt and benefits actually accruing to the Black Person);
> transformation must have taken place within the firm (this measures the improvement,
if any, in the firm’s BBBEE status);
> the relevant loan or security arrangement must be recorded in a written agreement
between the lender, such Black Person and the firm (unless the firm is the lender);
> the continued recognition is only permitted for a period equal to that for which the Black
Person held the shares and cannot contribute more than 40% of the score on the firm’s
ownership scorecard.
The Codes also allow BBBEE ownership points to be scored by the seller of assets, equity
instruments or a business to Black People subject to complying with various requirements
including that the transaction results in the creation of a viable and sustainable business
owned by Black People and transfers “critical and specialised skills, managerial skills and
productive capacity” to Black People, that the business has no “unreasonable limitations or
conditions with regard to its clients”, and has customers and suppliers other than the seller,
and that Black People must hold the asset for at least three years. Licences, leases and sales
of franchises by franchisors to franchisees do not qualify.
Special rules apply for private equity funds and non-profit companies.
5.2 Management
Board Participation
18
Measurement Category & Criteria Weighting Points Compliance Targets
Senior Management
Black employees in Senior Management as a
2 60%
percentage of all senior management
Middle Management
Junior Management
Bonus Points
Number of black people absorbed by the Measured and Industry
5 100%
Entity at the end of the Learnership programmes
Preferential Procurement
BBBEE Procurement Spend from all Empowering
Suppliers based on the BBBEE Procurement
5 80%
Recognition Levels as a percentage of Total
Measured Procurement Spend
8 Please note that amendments to the skills development scorecard were proposed in March 2018 and have as at the publication date of
this Guide not been finalised.
9 The term “Leviable Amount” is defined in the Skills Development Levies Act, 1999.
10 In terms of the Codes, the Enterprise and Supplier Development element consists of “Preferential Procurement, Enterprise Development
and Supplier Development, and Enterprise Development and Supplier Development Contributions will be recognized as a percentage of
annual Net Profit After Tax”. Amendments proposed in June 2018 introduce an additional measuring principle, i.e. “The Net Profit After
Tax or average target applies unless:
1) a company does not make a profit last year or on average over the last five years;
2) the net profit margin is less than a quarter of the norm in the industry.
If the Turnover is to be used, the target will set at 1% x Indicative Profit Margin (NPAT/Turnover) x Turnover”
The amendments have as at the publication date of this Guide not been finalised.
11 Amendments proposed to the Codes in June 2018 now make provision for the inclusion of Exempted Micro Enterprises. The amendments
have as at the publication date of this Guide not been finalised.
12 Amendments proposed to the Codes in June 2018 proposes that the points be 5. The amendments have as at the publication date of this
Guide not been finalised.
20 13 Amendments proposed to the Codes in June 2018 proposes a new compliance target of 25%. The amendments have as at the publication
date of this Guide not been finalised.
Criteria Weighting Points Compliance Targets
14
BBBEE Procurement Spend from all Exempted
Micro-Enterprises based on the applicable
BBBEE Procurement Recognition Levels 4 15%
as a percentage of Total Measured
Procurement Spend
Bonus Points
BBBEE Procurement Spend from 17Designated
Group Suppliers that are at least 51% 2 2%
black-owned
Supplier Development
Annual value of all Supplier Development
Contributions made by the Measured Entity 10 2% of Net Profit After Tax
as a percentage of the target
Enterprise Development
Annual value of Enterprise Development
Contributions and Sector Specific Programmes
5 1% of Net Profit After Tax
made by the Measured Entity as a percentage
of the target
Bonus Points
Bonus point for graduation of one or more
Enterprise Development beneficiaries to 1
graduate to the Supplier Development level
14 Amendments proposed to the Codes in June 2018 introduces an additional criteria for measurement, i.e. “BBBEE Procurement Spend
from all Empowering Exempted Micro-Enterprises based on the applicable BBBEE Procurement Recognition Levels as a percentage of Total
Measured Procurement Spend” with a maximum of 4 points available and a compliance target of 15%.
15 Amendments proposed to the Codes in June 2018 proposes that the points be 11. The amendments have as at the publication date of this
Guide not been finalised.
16 Amendments proposed to the Codes in June 2018 proposes a new compliance target of 50%. The amendments have as at the publication
date of this Guide not been finalised.
17 Amendments proposed to the Codes in June 2018 include the word “Empowering” before “Designated”. The amendments have as at the
publication date of this Guide not been finalised.
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GLOSSARY
OF TERMS
Term Meaning
BBBEE Act The Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Act 53 of 2003, as amended
BBBEE Status The BBBEE status of a firm as measured under the Codes or an applicable code of
good practice issued under the BBBEE Act for a particular sector of the economy
Black People Natural persons who are African, Coloured or Indian (as well as certain persons
of Chinese descent) who:
> are citizens of the Republic of South Africa by birth or descent; or
> became citizens of South Africa by naturalisation:
- before 27 April 1994; or
- on or after 27 April 1994 and would have been entitled to acquire
citizenship by naturalisation before that date
Broad-Based The economic empowerment of all Black People, including women, workers,
youth, people with disabilities and people living in rural areas through diverse,
Black Economic but integrated socio-economic strategies, that include, but are not limited to:
Empowerment
> increasing the number of Black People that manage, own and control
(BBBEE) enterprises and productive assets;
> facilitating ownership and management of enterprises, and productive assets
by communities, workers, cooperatives and other collective enterprises;
> human resource and skills development;
> achieving equitable representation in all occupational categories and levels
in the workforce;
> preferential procurement; and
> investment in enterprises that are owned or managed by black people
Codes The “generic” Codes of Good Practice issued in terms of the BBBEE Act that came
into effect on 1 May 2015
06 GLOSSARY OF TERMS | 25
Term Meaning
Fronting Practice A transaction, arrangement or other act or conduct that directly or indirectly
undermines or frustrates the achievement of the objectives of the BBBEE Act or the
implementation of any of the provisions of the BBBEE Act, including but not limited
to practices in connection with a BBBEE initiative:
> in terms of which Black Persons, who are appointed to an enterprise, are
discouraged or inhibited from substantially participating in the core activities
of that enterprise;
> in terms of which the economic benefits received as a result of the BBBEE
status of an enterprise do not flow back to black people in the ratio specified
in the relevant legal documentation;
> involving the conclusion of a legal relationship with a Black Person for the
purpose of that enterprise achieving a certain level of BBBEE compliance
without granting that Black Person the economic benefits that would
reasonably be expected to be associated with the status or position held
by that Black Person;
> involving the conclusion of an agreement with another enterprise in order to
achieve or enhance BBBEE status in circumstances in which:
- there are significant limitations, whether implicit or explicit, on the
identity of suppliers, service providers, clients or customers;
- the maintenance of business operations is reasonably considered
to be improbable, having regard to the resources available;
- the terms and conditions were not negotiated at arm’s length and on
a fair and reasonable basis
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