Proposed BEE amendments split ANC, DA

THE Government of National Unity (GNU) could once again be headed for choppy waters after the ANC rejected the DA proposal to eliminate South Africa’s Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) policy.

- MASHUDU SADIKE

The DA’s Economic Inclusion for All Bill, introduced to replace the existing BEE policy, aims to remove race as a determining factor, and replace it with a needs-based approach.

The party argues that BEE, since its introduction in 2003 as a redress policy for apartheid-era economic inequalities, has been ineffective and has primarily benefited a connected elite, leaving the majority of South Africans impoverished and unemployed.

President Cyril Ramaphosa, speaking in his capacity as ANC president during a visit to Soshanguve in Pretoria on Monday night, made it clear that any amendments would need to align with the policy's constitutional underpinnings.

“Currently, we have a BEE policy that is rooted and underpinned by our Constitution, so if anyone wants an amendment to the BEE Act, they must table their proposals, and they must be taken for discussion in Parliament. At the moment, BEE policies, legislation, and regulation apply, without any dilution whatsoever.”

ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu said the ANC’s stance was that the organisation remained open to any discussions but were not willing to scrap the policy.