BEE South Africa: Government’s Role and Challenges
Tusker, a BEE South Africa private-equity fund, often ignites reactions – many against BEE. This sentiment, especially the perceived connection between BEE South Africa and corruption, understandably upsets many South Africans, particularly the business community.
Tusker champions transformation and has sculpted its business model around making BEE ownership in South Africa strategically beneficial for clients. But Tusker isn’t oblivious to BEE’s challenges. These challenges span from ideological to practical implementation and regulatory issues. However, the most pressing concern is the government’s role in tarnishing BEE’s image, which we delve into below.
The Achievements of BEE South Africa
BEE in South Africa deserves credit. It’s not just a few who have benefitted. The racial complexion of the South African economy has transformed significantly due to BEE. Wealth generation, training, and recruitment of black managers for BEE purposes, and benefits for suppliers and communities, all testify to its success.
Moreover, the BEE Act has witnessed the spending power of black individuals surge, altering the economic racial makeup permanently. Yet, a significant portion of the black population remains unemployed, homeless, and impoverished.
While it’s undeniable that corruption has misused BEE as a channel, it’s not entirely BEE’s fault.
Government’s Mixed Signals
While the government initiated BEE, its lack of compulsory implementation allows businesses to overlook it. The key question is: where does the fault lie?
Lack of Government Leadership:
An analysis of the B-BBEE Commissions’ report uncovers a shocking fact: only a handful of State-Owned Entities submitted their Compliance Reports. This negligence shows the government’s lackadaisical approach to BEE South Africa, even as they advocate its importance.
Juggling South Africa’s Needs:
With a nearly R1 trillion annual budget, the government aimed to use its clout to promote black businesses and their economic participation. Balancing this objective with other economic factors, like tax collections, investor sentiment, and consumer confidence, proves challenging.
No Clear Success Criteria:
BEE South Africa lacks defined success metrics. When has transformation sufficed? When is BEE “enough”? Such vagueness, possibly intentional, makes BEE a handy political instrument.
Diluting BEE’s Incentive:
One major criticism is that BEE fosters corruption. Good corporate citizens often find themselves losing to corrupt entities, which deters them from pursuing BEE.
Overemphasis on BEE:
BEE sometimes supersedes all other considerations, leading to compromises in quality and cost. It’s essential to maintain a balance.
Government as a Business Partner:
Despite promising contracts, government delays in payments can cripple black businesses. For BEE South Africa to be effective, the government needs to be a reliable partner.
For BEE South Africa to reach its full potential, the government must fully support it—clean business practices, timely payments, and genuine transformation are pivotal.
