B-BBEE is not delivering equality as it's 'tainted by corrupt elites'

Broad-based black economic empowerment (B-BBEE) was meant to give black South Africans a fair shot at economic power, yet in 2025 the promise remains broken.

- Tshehla Cornelius Koteli

White people still dominate in jobs and positions of authority, leaving the vision of equality far from reality.

The B-BBEE Act was introduced in 2003, following the establishment of the black economic empowerment (BEE) policy in 1994.

Pali Lehohla, former statistician-general, argued that racial inequalities have grown since the dawn of democracy. He was speaking at the Frank Dialogue on the future of B-BBEE on Tuesday in Johannesburg.