Paul Janisch

(Restricted and limited) Invitation to engage with the dti on the revised B-BEE code of conduct

This was sent to me this morning - but not by the DTI or Creative Space Media.  It seems as though the DTI is choosing to speak to people that agreed with them - otherwise they would have asked me to contribute. I've left the contact details in the invitation in case you wish to be rejected. It could be worse, you could actually attend and experience the DTI's hospitality and entertaining presentation skills.

From: Belinda Navias [mailto:belinda@creativespacemedia.co.za]
Sent: Tuesday, February 19, 2013 8:56 AM
To: 
Subject: Invitation to engage with the dti on the revised B-BEE code of conduct

The revised Codes of Good Practice were launched by the Minister of Trade and Industry on the 2nd October 2012, and subsequently released for a 60-day commentary process from 5th October 2012 to 6th December 2012. Various comments and inputs were received, and the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) has conducted an analysis of the proposals received. These analyses were clustered per element, and key substantial issues had been noted for further deliberations with the key stakeholders in closed sessions, and to ensure government has visibility of some of the practical implications and unintended consequences.

In this regard and in order to finalise the process, you are hereby invited to participate and provide valuable inputs on the (SELECTED ELEMENT) work stream element of the revised codes, which is scheduled to take place as per the following details:

Workshop Details
Date: 26 February 2013
Time: 7:30am to 12.30pm
Venue: The Ballroom, The Wanderers Club, 21 North St, Illovo

Due to high demand, numbers are limited to the first 250 participants. (Select participants, I'll warrant)

Registration and a light breakfast commences at 7.30am. The morning session will begin at 8.30am and will take the form of a Q&A panel discussion with prominent members of the dti, including Ms Nomonde Mesatywa, Chief Director of the Black Economic Empowerment Unit. A sit-down lunch will be served for all delegates at 12.30pm to finish off the day.

This is a final opportunity to engage the dti on the impact of the new legislative requirements and proposed amendments. We encourage all participants to submit any questions or comments before the workshop to ensure that time is effectively managed and we get through as much as possible on the day.

Please submit questions to Creative Space Media:
Email: georgina@creativespacemedia.co.za or laila@creativespacemedia.co.za
Tel: 011 467 3341

Litigating for results

Most of us know that if you want to get anything done by the government you either have to bribe or litigate.  Now the former is largely undesirable so the latter is unfortunately the method of choice with us law-abiding citizens.

I would have thought that litigation would have very serious negative connotations, but an interaction with a prominent Joburg lawyer explained this in a different context.  The lawyer was referring to the DMR, a department that is very familiar with the courtrooms of our nation.  He told me that many officials are very happy to accept court orders compelling them to do something or other because this is now an official sanction for a decision that they are too scared, or otherwise, to make.  In other words - a court makes their decisions for them and there's no egg on their face for not making the correct decision.

We now find ourselves in a similar position with the DTI.  The latest notice about the migration to the new targets.  I've been told that not only is this document grammatically and technically a shambles, it's also procedurally incorrect.  Take a look at section 9 of the current BEE Act (which is largely unchanged in Rob's bill)

9. Codes of good practice

1)        In order to promote the purposes of the Act, the Minister may by notice in the Gazette issue Codes of Good Practice on black economic empowerment

5)        The Minister must, before issuing, replacing or amending a code of good practice in terms of subsection (1)-

a)        publish the draft code of good practice or amendment in the Gazette for public comment; and

b)        grant interested persons a period of at least 60 days to comment on the draft code of good practice or amendment, as the case may be.

The notice about the new periods is issued under section 9(1)  - 

In terms of section 9 (1) of the B-BBEE Act, the Minister of Trade and Industry is empowered by notice in Gazette to issue the Code of Good Practice for further interpretation and understanding of B-BBEE.

This notice was not published for comment and hence is unprocedural. But will the DTI provide any clarity on this?  They won't provide any clarity on anything.  The ridiculousness of this notice shows up when you consider that very few, if any, entities that measure their financial performance over a year do so from the period 10 Feb 2011 to 9 Feb 2012.  No - they tend to use proper calendar months.  I, like many of you, have clients whose financial year ends at the end of February and are going to have to measure themselves on the new targets because of the 20 day overlap.  What we have here is retrospective legislation.

And this is but one issue that we face.  And we know that the DTI is not going to help us, neither is bribery.  Our only option is litigation to force a decision.  I know this is a risky route to take,  it could throw the whole of BEE into oblivion but I fear that we need to do this.  After all - WE NEED CLARITY.

I represent a growing group of concerned people across the board who want this issue sorted out and would be willing to litigate - they do however need the money to do this. If there is any organisation out there with a desire to help us clear up these issues through our courts, we'd like to hear from you.

 

 

Bills, bills, bills (or what I really think of the new B-BBEE Bill)

Commenting on a bill like the new BEE bill could either be knee-jerk as an immediate response or knee-jerk after much deliberation. I chose the latter route. The first thing I realised was that you can't look at the amendments without looking at the original act. And so I was going to laboriously combine the two and then comment; but what with the babysitting and all sorts of other responsibilities that accompany being a new parent, I hadn't done it. I was saved at the last minute by Sakkie O'Neil who had gone through the painstaking process of combining the two together and compiling a series of comments and quotes in the same document. I suppose I have Sakkie to thank for this post – and I have included the entire bill (without Sakkie's permission) below my comments. 

The new B-BBEE bill and what I think.

The DTI's press release on the gazetting of the bill told us that the gazetting of the Amendment Bill is the culmination of the recommendations done by the Presidential B-BBEE Advisory Council. This made me take a deep breath because I know that this so-called council is incapable of understanding anything as simple as the empowerment of people. The majority of the people sitting on the council have never run a business but are business people by virtue of BEE benevolence. Oh yes and they are now going to be paid to continue their useless work (section 8). It's therefore completely understandable that the main focus of this bill is going to be on fronting – because that's all this lot have debated over the last two years. They've also appointed subcommittees who are manned by people like (the now very disgraced) Andile Tlhoaéle, who is a member of the Presidential BEE Advisory Council Sub-committee on Instruments to Promote BEE, Verification and Charters. So then why not start with fronting.

Fronting

Blah, blah, blah. Like fronting is the scourge that they claim it is, have you ever tried to alert the DTI about fronting. They do nothing. But I digress.

It appears from the definition that fronting might include any misrepresentation on a scorecard, but then the specifics tend towards BEE transactions. I believe that fronting is broader than mere transactions when read within the context of the entire act.

There are penalties for fronting

1. The state may cancel contracts if a misrepresentation is found (I wonder if they'll ever pick-up on the fact that Chancellor House is a patent front) – section 14
2. It as an offence to misrepresent the B-BBEE status of an enterprise. This carries the penalty of a fine or ten years imprisonment or both if you are convicted. In other words you don't need to be doing business with the state to be found guilty of an offence under the act. However if you are found guilty then the state can blacklist you – section 20.

Broadened ambit of the bill

The allocation of licences, concessions, incentives etc. must take any relevant code of good practice into account. It's broader than the previous act.

Sectoral charters

There is a greater emphasis on sectoral charters (section 10). In fact it's now clear that if your company falls within the scope of a charter you have to apply it. This practice has been in operation for a while now, but at least there's clarity. BUT if you operate in a sector where there is a sectoral code the you have to report annually on your compliance to the sector council (assuming that they've actually instituted one). Understand that a failure to comply with this requirement now renders you in breach of the act and you could find yourself facing 12 months imprisonment or a fine of 10% of turnover (section 20 see below). This begs two questions:

1. What happened to the voluntary nature of BEE – this effectively makes the whole process mandatory, or maybe it's just that you have to report that is mandatory. This requirement comes from the EE Act, which now attempts to criminalise almost everything.
2. Can we expect more charters, because those companies that are subject to the DTI's generic codes don't need to comply with this requirement.

Transformation policy

Section 12A allows an organ of state (subject to probably very lax conditions) to develop their own transformation policies that will take precedence of codes gazetted under section 9. The effect of this is that it gives the Mining Charter the same status as a code. In other words the Mining Charter and other charters that are gazetted under acts different to the BEE Act are given full code status in terms of the Act. It's a clever provision but very worrying. What this means is that each organ of state can create its own procurement policy (as per section10.1.b) and then require a verification in terms of this code. So if you are doing business with say the DPW, Transnet and Tshwane Municipality you could find yourself complying with three different scorecards to placate these procurement policies. Again – this will push up the cost of compliance to unimaginable levels.

B-BBEE Act über alles

Go to section 23 and take a look at how the BEE Act effectively places itself over and above any other act where there might be a discrepancy. What we have here is the DTI saying fuck you to Treasury, because the one act that this bill seriously compromises is the PPPFA and other PPPFA-related policies. I don't know enough about constitutional law but I am quite sure that the constitution would not allow one piece of legislation to run roughshod over other pieces of legislation. I would suggest that at least this section is fundamentally unconstitutional – and if were Treasury I would block this section.

That's it

There's a bit more in the bill and you can read it below. It's not a good piece of legislation – it pushes up the cost of compliance substantially. As it stands BEE is not in fact broken – it's working very well but it would seem that this news is not filtering to either the DTI or the BEE Council. The bill is an agenda not an attempt to assist in the overall transformation of the economy.  

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9 January 2004

It is hereby notified that the President has assented to the following Act, which is hereby published for general information:–

No. 53 of 2003:

Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Act, 2003

To establish a legislative framework for the promotion of black economic empowerment; to empower the Minister to issue codes of good practice and to publish transformation charters; to establish the Black Economic Empowerment Advisory Council; and to provide for matters connected therewith.

PREAMBLE

WHEREAS under apartheid race was used to control access to South Africa's productive resources and access to skills;

WHEREAS South Africa's economy still excludes the vast majority of its people from ownership of productive assets and the possession of advanced skills;

WHEREAS South Africa's economy performs below its potential because of the low level of income earned and generated by the majority of its people;

AND WHEREAS, unless further steps are taken to increase the effective participation of the majority of South Africans in the economy, the stability and prosperity of the economy in the future may be undermined to the detriment of all South Africans, irrespective of race;

AND IN ORDER TO-

          promote the achievement of the constitutional right to equality, increase broad-based and effective participation of black people in the economy and promote a higher growth rate, increased employment and more equitable income distribution; and

          establish a national policy on broad-based black economic empowerment so as to promote the economic unity of the nation, protect the common market, and promote equal opportunity and equal access to government services.

1. Definitions

In this Act, unless the context indicates otherwise-

"B-BBEE transaction"

means any transaction, practice, scheme or other initiative which affects, or may affect, the B-BBEE compliance of any person;

"black people"

is a generic term which means Africans, Coloureds and Indians who are citizens of the Republic of South Africa by birth or descent or who became citizens of the Republic of South Africa by naturalisation –

1. Before 27 April 1994; or
2. on or after 27 April 1994 and who would have been entitled to acquire citizenship by naturalisation prior to that date but were precluded from doing so by Apartheid policies;

"broad-based black economic empowerment"

means the sustainable economic empowerment of all black people, including in particular women, workers, youth, people with disabilities and people living in rural areas through diverse but integrated socio-economic strategies that include, but are not limited to-

a)        increasing the number of black people that manage, own and control enterprises and productive assets;

b)        facilitating ownership and management of enterprises and productive assets by communities, workers, co-operatives and other collective enterprises;

c)        human resource and skills development;

d)        achieving equitable representation in all occupational categories and levels in the workforce;

e)        preferential procurement, including the promotion of local content procurement; and

f)          investment in enterprises that are owned or managed by black people;

"B-BBEE Verification Professional"

means a person registered by the verification agency regulator and/or the South African National Accreditation System to conduct B-BBEE verification;

"Codes"

means the codes of good practice issued by the Minister in terms of Section 9 of the Act;

"Commission"

means the B-BBEE Commission established in terms of section 15 of the Act;

"Council"

means the Black Economic Empowerment Advisory Council established by section 4;

 

"Department"

means the Department of Trade and Industry

 

"Fronting B-BBEE Practice"

means a transaction, arrangement or conduct that directly or indirectly undermines or frustrates the achievement of the objectives of the Act or the implementation of any of the provisions of the Act, including but not limited to practices in connection with a B-BBEE transaction –

1. 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;
2. in terms of which the economic benefits received as a result of the B-BBEE status of an enterprise do not flow to black people in the ratio specified in the relevant legal documentation;
3. involving the conclusion of a legal relationship with a black person for the purpose of that enterprise achieving a certain level of B-BBEE 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;
4. involving the conclusion of an agreement with another enterprise in order to achieve and enhance B-BBEE status in circumstances in which –
   1. there are significant limitations on the identity of suppliers, service providers, clients or customers;
   2. the maintenance of business operations in a context reasonably considered to be improbable having regard to resources;
   3. the terms and conditions were not negotiated at arms length on a fair and reasonable basis;

"knowing", "knowingly" or "knows"

when used with respect to a person, and in relation to a particular matter, means that the person either –

1. had actual knowledge of that matter; or
2. was in a position in which the person reasonably ought to have –
   1. had actual knowledge;
   2. investigated the matter to an extent that would have provided the person with actual knowledge; or
   3. taken other measures which, if taken, would reasonably be expected to have provided the person with actual knowledge of the matter;

"Local content"

means locally produced goods, services or works or locally manufactured goods which satisfy a stipulated minimum threshold for local production and content;

"members"

means members of the Council;

"Minister"

means the Minister of Trade and Industry;

"organ of state"

means-

a)        a national or provincial department as defined in the Public Finance Management Act 1999 (Act No. 1 of 1999);

b)        a municipality as contemplated in the Constitution;

c)        Parliament;

d)        a provincial legislature: and

e)        a constitutional institution listed in Schedule 1 to the Public Finance Management Act, 1999 (Act No.1 of 1999);

"prescribe"

means prescribe by regulation;

"public entity"

means a public entity listed in Schedule 2 or 3 to the Public Finance Management Act. 1999 (Act No. 1 of 1999);

"Sector Charters"

Means sectoral transformation charters referred to in section 9 of the Act;

"strategy"

rneans a strategy for broad-based black economic empowerment issued in terms of section 11; and

"this Act"

includes any code of good practice or regulation made under this Act.

"Verification Professional Regulator"

means the Independent Regulatory Board of Auditors, a statutory body established in terms of section 3 of the Auditing Profession Act, 2005 (Act No 26 of 2005).

2. 0bjectives of Act

The objectives of this Act are to facilitate broad-based black economic empowerment by-

a)        promoting economic transformation in order to enable meaningful participation of black people in the economy;

b)        achieving a substantial change in the racial composition of ownership and management structures and in the skilled occupations of existing and new enterprises;

c)        increasing the extent to which communities, workers, cooperatives and other collective enterprises own and manage existing and new enterprises and increasing their access to economic activities, infrastructure and skills training;

d)        increasing the extent to which black women own and manage existing and new enterprises, and increasing their access to economic activities, infrastructure and skills training;

e)        promoting investment programmes that lead to broad-based and meaningful participation in the economy by black people in order to achieve sustainable development and general prosperity;

f)          empowering rural and local communities by enabling access to economic activities, land, infrastructure, ownership and skills; and

g)        promoting access to finance for black economic empowerment start-ups, micro and medium enterprises and black entrepreneurs, including the informal black business sector.

h)    increasing effective black owned and managed enterprises, including SMMEs, and their access to financial and non-financial support.

3. Interpretation of Act

Any person applying this Act must interpret its provisions so as-

a)        to give effect to its objectives; and

b)        to comply with the Constitution.

4. Establishment of Black Economic Empowerment Advisory Council

The Black Economic Empowerment Advisory Council is hereby established.

5. Functions of Council

The Council must-

a)        advise government on black economic empowerment;

b)        review progress in achieving black economic empowerment;

c)        advise on draft codes of good practice which the Minister intends publishing for comment in terms of section 9(5);

d)        advise on the development, amendment or replacement of the strategy referred to in section 11;

e)        if requested to do so, advise on draft transformation charters; and

f)          facilitate partnerships between organs of state and the private sector that will advance the objectives of this Act.

6. Composition of Council and appointment of members

1)        The Council consists of-

a)        the President, who is the chairperson of the Council;

b)        the Minister, with the Minister's Director-General as an alternate;

c)        three other Cabinet Ministers, appointed by the President, with their respective Directors-General as alternates;

d)        no fewer than 10 and no more than 15 other members appointed by the President.

2)        When appointing members in terms of subsection (1)(d), the President shall have regard to the need for the Council-

a)        to have appropriate expertise;

b)        to represent different relevant constituencies including trade unions. business, community-based organisations and academics.

3)        In appointing members in terms of subsection (1)(d), the President shall follow an appropriate consultative process.

4)        The President shall appoint a Cabinet Minister who is also a member of the Council to act as chairperson of the Council in the President's absence.

7. Constitution and rules of Council

1)        The Minister must establish a constitution for the Council.

2)        The Minister may amend the constitution of the Council from time to time, after consultation with the Council.

3)        The Council may, by resolution, and after consultation with the Minister, make rules to further regulate the proceedings of the Council.

8. Remuneration and reimbursement of expenses

Council members may will not be remunerated for their services in accordance with the provisions of the National Treasury Regulations and, but will be reimbursed for expenses incurred by them in carrying out their duties, as determined by the Minister, with the concurrence of the Minister of Finance.

9. Codes of good practice

1)        In order to promote the purposes of the Act, the Minister may by notice in the Gazette issue Codes of Good Practice on black economic empowerment that may include--

a)        the further interpretation and definition of broad-based black economic empowerment and the interpretation and definition of different categories of black empowerment entities;

b)        qualification criteria for preferential purposes for procurement and other economic activities;

c)        indicators to measure broad-based black economic empowerment;

d)        the weighting to be attached to broad-based black economic empowerment indicators referred to in paragraph (c);

e)        guidelines for stakeholders in the relevant sectors of the economy to draw up transformation charters and sector codes of practice for their sector; and

f)    indicators to measure local content; and

f) g)         any other matter necessary to achieve the objectives of this Act.

2)        A strategy issued by the Minister in terms of section 11 must be taken into account in preparing any code of good practice.

3)        A code of good practice issued in terms of subsection (1) may specify-

a)        targets consistent with the objectives of this Act; and

b)        the period within which those targets must be achieved.

4)        In order to promote the achievement of equality of women, as provided for in section 9(2) of the Constitution, a code of good practice issued in terms of subsection (1) and any targets specified in a code of good practice in terms of subsection (3), may distinguish between black men and black women.

5)        The Minister must, before issuing, replacing or amending a code of good practice in terms of subsection (1)-

a)        publish the draft code of good practice or amendment in the Gazette for public comment; and

b)        grant interested persons a period of at least 60 days to comment on the draft code of good practice or amendment, as the case may be.

6)    A code of good practice remains in effect until amended, substituted or repealed in terms of this Act.

10. Status of codes of good practice

1)     Every organ of state and public entity must take into account as far as is reasonably possible, and apply any relevant code of good practice issued in terms of this Act in-

a)        determining qualification criteria for the issuing of licences, concessions or authorizations in respect of economic activity in terms of any law;

b)        developing and implementing a preferential procurement policy;

c)        determining qualification criteria for the sale of state-owned enterprises; and

d)        developing criteria for entering into partnerships with the private sector; and

e)    determining criteria for the awarding of incentives, grants, and investment schemes in support of broad-based black economic empowerment.

 

2)        Subject to section 12A, an enterprise in a sector in respect of which the Minister has issued a sector code in terms of section 9 may only be measured for compliance with the requirements of broad-based black economic empowerment in accordance with that code.

    

3)        Enterprises operating in a sector in respect of which the Minister has issued a sector code in terms of section 9, must report annually on their compliance with B-BBEE to the Sector Council.

 

11. Strategy for broad-based black economic empowerment

 

 

1)        The Minister-

a)        must issue a strategy for broad-based black economic empowerment;

b)        may change or replace a strategy issued in terms of this section.

 

2)        A strategy in terms of this section must-

a)       provide for an integrated co-ordinated and uniform approach to broad-based black economic empowerment by all organs of state, public entities, the private sector, non-governmental organizations, local communities and other stakeholders;

b)      develop a plan for financing broad-based black economic empowerment, including the creation of incentive schemes to support effective black owned and managed enterprises;

c)      provide a system for organs of state, public entities and other enterprises to prepare broad-based black economic empowerment plans and to report on compliance with those plans; and

d)      be consistent with this Act.

12. Transformation charters

 The Minister must publish in the Gazette for general information and promote a transformation charter for a particular sector of the economy, if the Minister is satisfied that the charter-

a)        has been developed by major stakeholders in that sector; and

b)        advances the objectives of this Act.

12A. Transformation policy

1. If requested to do so, the Minister may permit organs of state or public entities to determine their own transformation policies, if the Minister is satisfied that this will advance the objectives of B-BBEE and the strategic imperatives in the South African economy.
2. An organ of state or a public entity must apply any transformation policy made in terms of this section as if it were a Code.
3. In the event of any conflict between a Code issued in terms of section 9 and a transformation policy made in terms of this section, the transformation policy prevails.

13. Support services and funding of Council

 

 1)        The Department of Trade and Industry must provide the Council with the necessary support services and funding out of money appropriated by Parliament for that purpose.

 

2)        The funds referred to in subsection (1), must be utilised for-

a)        the establishment and operating costs of the Council; and

b)        the development and implementation of a communication plan on broad-based black economic empowerment.

14. Regulations

The Minister may make regulations with regard to any matter that it is necessary to prescribe in order to ensure the proper implementation of this Act.

15. Short title and commencement

 

 

This Act is called the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Act, 2003, and comes into operation on a date to be determined by the President by proclamation in the Gazette.

14 Cancellation of Contract or authorisation

Any contract or authorisation awarded on account of false information furnished by or on behalf of an enterprise in respect of its B-BBEE status may be cancelled at the sole discretion of the organ of state or public entity without prejudice to any other remedies that the organ of state or public entity may have.

15 Establishment and status of B-BBEE Commission

1. The B-BBEE Commission is hereby established as a juristic person to function as an organ of state within the public administration but as an institution outside the public service.
2. The Commission is headed by a Commissioner appointed by the Minister.
3. The Commission -
   1. has jurisdiction throughout the Republic;
   2. is independent. and subject only to-
      1. the Constitution and the law: and
      2. any policy statement. directive or request issued to it by the Minister in terms of this Act;
   3. must be impartial and perform its functions without fear, favour, or prejudice: and
   4. must exercise the functions assigned to it in terms of this Act or any other law, or by the Minister. in-
      1. the most cost-effective and efficient manner; and
      2. in accordance with the values and principles mentioned in section 195 of the Constitution.
4. Each organ of state must assist the Commission to maintain its independence and impartiality, and to exercise its authority and perform its functions effectively.

16 Appointment of Commissioner

1)     The Minister must appoint a person with suitable qualifications and experience to be the Commissioner for a term of five years.

 

2)     The Minister may re-appoint a person as Commissioner at the expiry of that person's office.

 

3)     The Commissioner, who is the Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, is responsible for the general administration of the Commission and for carrying out any functions assigned to it in terms of this Act, and must-

(a)     perform the functions that are conferred on the Commissioner by or in terms of this Act;

(b)     manage and direct the activities of the Commission: and

(c)    supervise the Commission's staff.

4)     The Minister must, in consultation with the Minister of Finance, determine the Commissioner's remuneration, allowances, benefits, and other terms and conditions of employment.

5)     The Commissioner, on one month's written notice addressed to the Minister, may resign as Commissioner.

6)     The Minister may remove the Commissioner from office for -

(a) serious misconduct or permanent incapacity:

(b) engaging in any activity that may undermine the integrity of the Commission;

(c) any other legitimate ground that justifies the removal of the Commissioner.

17 Functions of B-BBEE Commission:

1)     The functions of the Commission are-

(a)     to oversee supervise and promote adherence with this Act in the interest of the public:

(b)     to strengthen and foster collaboration between the public and private sector in order to promote and safeguard the objectives of B-BBEE;

(c)     to receive and investigate complaints relating to B-BBEE in accordance with the provisions of this Act;

(d)     to promote advocacy access to opportunities and educational programmes and initiatives of B-BBEE:

(e)     to maintain a registry of major B-BBEE transactions above a threshold determined by the Minister from time to time;

(f)     to receive and analyse reports as prescribed concerning B-BBEE compliance from organs of state, public entities and private sector enterprises;

(g)     to promote good governance and accountability by creating an effective and efficient environment for the promotion and implementation of B-BBEE: and

(h)     subject to this Act, to exercise such other powers as may be conferred on the Commission in writing by the Minister.

2)     Notwithstanding the provisions of any law, but subject to the approval of the Minister, the Commissioner may enter into an agreement with any other person, body of persons or organ of state, including but not limited to a special investigating unit established under the Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunals Act 1996 (Act No. 74 of 1996), to perform any of its duties and functions under this Act.

18 Investigation by Commission

1)     Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Commission has the power, on its own initiative or on receipt of a complaint in the prescribed form, to investigate any B-BBEE transaction which exceeds a value determined from time to time by the Minister.

2)    The Commission may not investigate any matter that constitutes an administrative action, as defined in the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act, 2000 (Act No 3 of 2000) or may be reviewed on any ground permissible in law.

3)     The format and the procedure to be followed in conducting any investigation must be determined by the Commission with due regard to the circumstances of each case and may include the holding of a formal inquiry.

4)     For the purposes of conducting an investigation, the Commission may exercise the powers conferred upon the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission by sections 176 to 179 of the Companies Act, 2008 (Act No 71 of 2008) read with the changes required by the context.

5)     Without limiting the jurisdiction of the Commission, the Commission may make a finding as to whether any B-BBEE transaction involves fronting practices.

6)     The Commission may institute proceedings in a court to restrain the commission of any breach of this Act, including any fronting B-BBEE practice, or to obtain appropriate remedial relief.

7)     If the Commission is of the view that any matter it has investigated may involve the commission of a criminal offence, it must refer the matter to the National Prosecuting Authority or an appropriate division of the South African Police Services.

8)     The Commission may refer to -

(a)     the South African Revenue Service, any concerns regarding behaviour or conduct that may be prohibited or regulated in terms of legislation within the jurisdiction of that Service;

(b)     the Independent Regulatory Board for Auditors, any concerns regarding behaviour or conduct by a B-BBEE Verification Professional; or

(c)     any other regulatory authority any concerns regarding behaviour or conduct that may be prohibited or regulated in terms of legislation within the jurisdiction of that regulatory authority.

19 Finances

1)     The Commission is financed from-

(a)     money that is appropriated by Parliament for the Commission:

(b)     money received from any other source.

2)     The Commissioner is the accounting authority of the Commission for purposes of the Public Finance Management Act. 1999 (Act No 1 of 1999).

3)     The Auditor General must audit the B-BBEE Commission's financial records each year.

20 Offences and Penalties

1)     A person is guilty of an offence if that person knowingly-

(a)     misrepresents or attempts to misrepresent the B-BBEE status of an enterprise;

(b)    provides false information or misrepresents information to the Verification Personnel in order to secure a particular B-BBEE status or any benefit associated with the compliance with this Act:

(c)     provides false information or misrepresents information relevant to assessing the B-BBBEE status of an enterprise, to any organ of state or public entity.

2)     A B-BBEE Verification Professional or any procurement officer or other official of an organ of state or public entity who becomes aware of the commission of, or any attempt to commit, any offence in terms of subsection (1 ) and fails to report it to an appropriate law enforcement agency, is guilty of an offence.

3)    Any person convicted of an offence in terms of this Act, is liable:-

(a)     in case of a contravention of sub-section (1), to a fine or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding 10 years or to both a fine and imprisonment: or

(b)     in any other case to a fine or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding 12 months or to both a fine and imprisonment:

(c)    in the case of an enterprise, to a fine of up to 10% of that enterprise's annual turnover.

4)     In addition, any person and/or entity convicted of an offence under subsections (1) or (3) of section 20, shall be banned from contracting or transacting any business with any organ of state and/or public entity, and shall be entered into the National Treasury register of tender defaulters.

21 Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting

1)     All spheres of government public entities, and organs of state must report on their compliance with B-BBEE in their audited annual financial statements and annual reports under the Public Finance Management Act, 1999 (Act No.1 of 1999).

2)     All public companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange must provide to the Commission -

(a)     the report on their compliance with B-BBEE that is contained in their sustainability reports:

(b)     any other prescribed information.

3)     All Sectoral Education and Training Authorities must report on skills development spending and programmes to the Commission.

22 B-BBEE Verification Professional Regulator

The B-BBEE verification professional shall be regulated by the B-BBEE verification agency regulator established in the Audit Profession Act. 2005 (Act No. 26 of 2005) as amended from time to time.

23 Interpretation of this Act

1)     If any conflict relating to the matters dealt with in this Act arises between this Act and the provisions of any other law save the Constitution and/or any Act expressly amending this Act, the provisions of this Act will prevail.

2)     Any person who is measuring B-BBEE compliance in terms of this Act must do so in a manner in which substance takes precedence over legal form.

24 Regulations

1)     The Minister may make regulations, guidelines and practice notes with regard to any matter that is required by this Act or that it is necessary to prescribe in order to ensure proper implementation of this Act

2)     Without limitation to sub-section (1), the Minister may make regulations in respect of-

(a)     the conduct of investigations by the Commission;

(b)     the information that any organ of state, public entity or private enterprise is required to provide to the Commission and the form and period of such reporting.

25 Short title and commencement

This Act is called the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Act, 2003, and comes into operation on a date to be determined by the President by proclamation in the Gazette.

Short title and commencement

This Act is called the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Amendment Act, 2011 and comes into operation on the date fixed by the President by proclamation in the Gazette.

 

Confirming the PPPFA's applicability and the DTI workshop

This notice was issued by Treasury this afternoon regarding the applicability of the PPPFA - it was issued in June but made the front page of www.gov.za today.  Reinforces my earlier post about Eskom and PPPFA.

NOTICE IN TERMS OF SECTION 1 (iii)(f) OF THE PREFERENTIAL PROCUMENT POLICY FRAMEWORK ACT, 2000 (ACT NO. 5 OF 2000) 

I,  Pravin  J.  Gordhan,  Minister  of  Finance,  acting  in  terms  of  section  1 (iii)(f)  of the Preferential  Procurement  Policy  Framework  Act,  2000  (Act  No.  5  of  2000),  hereby give notice that the Preferential  Procurement Policy Framework Act,  2000  (Act  No.  5 of 2000)  and its Regulations shall  apply to all  public  entities listed  in  Schedules 2  and 3  of  the  Public  Finance Management Act,  1999  (Act  No.  1 of  1999)  with  effect from 07 December 2011 . Signed  at Pretoria on this 6th day of June 2011 .

This notice bolsters the Joint statement by the Ministers of Economic Development, Finance and Trade and Industry on designated sectors for local procurement (which I think is great - very much in favour of this.

DTI's workshop today

By the way a little birdy is keeping a running commentary on the developments at this workshop.   It's not looking good - this is what I know so far (tweets have been edited)

• We are going to be measuring degrees of blackness
• In summary take everything jungle jim has said and turn it into your worst nightmare 

Oy vey - can't say I didn't expect as much.  There'll be many submissions from me to the DTI.

More on the disawareness campaign and a little bit of social consciousness

As per the November 6 post, it would seem that the Amajuba Municipality is a victim of poor DTI public relations and BEE.  This attachment is a must see - but for those of you with coloured monitors I'll write it out for you. (You can see the same announcement on the DTI's home page).

 

A MUST from 7 December 2011
Companies that wish to conduct business with government will be required to submit their valid BEE Certificates obtained from an Accredited Verifcation Agency or Registered auditors approved by the IRBA.  Companies with an annual revenue of R5million or less must get an Exempted Micro-Enterprise Certificate from a registered auditor or Accounting Officer confirming their annual turnover.

Whilst technically speaking this is correct, it suggests that without a BEE certificate (accredited or whatever) you cannot do business with government.  Also it doesn't take into account EME thresholds between the various sectors.  On top of this (as the reader who sent me the file observes).

The number being wrong at the bottom and the website it takes you to still talks about SANAS and pre-assessment letters.

The reader is correct on both counts.  The best is the telephone number (0861 394 9500), when you dial it you are politely informed that the number is invalid.  This is so wrong.  I'd love to say that it's not something we'd expect from the DTI, but it is.  Do they not understand that the average person is going to call them and not look at the website (internet penetration in South Africa is good but not that great).  

Yes, I am a cynic, and yes I have little faith in Rob and the DTI, but their every move in the world of BEE reinforces this.  

For those who wish to contact the DTI - here are the correct numbers.

Working Hours: Monday – Friday, from 08h00 until 17h00
National callers: 0861 843 384 
International callers: +27 (12) 394 9500

 

 

A reader responds to a writing reader

This is in response to the "A reader writes - SANASking too much" post of October 30.

This is most disturbing. 
Section 22 of the Constitution allows every citizen the right to choose their own trade, profession or occupation. While this section permits the regulation of trades, professions or occupations by law, read with section 36, a limitation on who can ply a trade, profession or occupation must be in terms of a 1) law of general application and 2) justifiable in an open and democratic society based on dignity, equality and freedom, and 3) taking into account all relevant factors. 
So, simple truth is, let's see if DTI has the balls to pass an Act of parliament to give effect to this. If they don't, somebody is going to make them look stupid...
Hey, we can call it Nationalisation.... 

SANationalisation perhaps.  No that's weak (is this a metaphor?).  But he's correct - this is a very apparent violation of section 22, if it is correct.  Once again I await comments from SANAS and the DTI.

 

DTI have updated their training website

Might have been that I was a little hasty in my post yesterday.  I checked the website and they've updated the content under "BBBEE Management development programme at NQF level 7".  The rest is still somewhat opaque.

It's a start - now will someone please register on this course and let me know what it's like.

DTI's new B-BBEE (off) course

There was much fanfare with Rob telling the whole world that

The Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) in partnership with UNISA and WITS have developed a standardised national Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) Management Development Programme (MDP). The program gives impetus to institutionalisation of B-BBEE within the economic system and to professionalise the current B-BBEE Industry.

Being a Wits graduate, I naturally asked no questions about this at the time.  I happened to be on the DTI's website the other day and saw the notice on the front page.  The hyperlink takes you to an impressive PDF document (with one minor typo).  This same notice tells us that the "B-BBEE Management Development Programme (MDP) is a short certificate programme" and will take registrations from the 1st of September, 2011 (that was 4 days ago).  To register you can go to: bbbee.traininggateway.co.za.  

And what exactly to you get when you go to bbbee.traininggateway.co.za?er..................not much.  An impressive front page and great contact page.  But as far as the course itself is concerned, when you go to the short courses link well all you get is 

And when you go to the bursaries link you get

Say you wanted to know more about this programme, well then you'd click on the Need to know more link (well that's what I did).  This is even more incomplete than the other stuff - just a lot of ad valorem, ip adsum, major excretum words.

You can register with them but it takes you nowhere

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I'm not going to ask you to forgive my cynicism because by now you'd expect it.  But this is so typical of the DTI - lots of big words and fokol else.  Why do you play into my hands Rob, can't you just prove me wrong for once!!!!

And when is this thing going to go live?  The industry really needs it.  I'll be the first to endorse it when it comes up - tell you what, let me be the guinea pig on the course.

 

 

The DTI's big stick

Do we need to be concerned about what Rob and the souls are the DTI are sprouting from their mouths,  especially when it comes to enterprise development?

The first thing I paid attention to was Rob muttering  "companies would have to be actively involved in fostering small businesses" in April this year.  I thought this was the stupidest idea ever (amidst all the competition for stupid ideas), and I have not changed my opinion on this.  However it has now found a close competitor.  

This quote is attributed to Sipho Zikode who is the deputy director-general for empowerment and enterprise development at the DTI.  He mentioned this at the launch of the NEF's ED plan (which we need to approach with a great deal of caution).

Zikode gave warning at the launch that there were proposals to increase the requirements of the scorecard. He aimed his warning specifically at so-called qualifying small enterprises.  We have found that some of these companies quote things they were going to do anyway as part of their empowerment efforts and claim that as a credit for participation in the transformation of the economy"

And then threatened us with 

"That is why there is a proposal now that all seven elements will have to apply (to these companies too)."

Let's go back to the first paragraph, it's quite clear that he is referring to enterprise development (he was after all speaking at an ED launch).  Is he saying that ED should be extraneous to your business - like Rob is suggesting.  In other words if you do do something that benefits both your business and the ED beneficiary but it is linked to your business you can't claim the points.  That's how I read this. 

This is quite simply ludicrous.  And again it demonstrates how little the DTI understands both capitalism and how BEE might grow the economy.  Which of course should not come a surprise considering that Rob is a serious player in the SACP.

But then who are we as the people who actually pay the taxes that fund the tenderpreneurs and other scam artists to tell the DTI how to go about BEE et al.  What the fuck, we'll try anyway even though we know that we will be continuously threatened with more onerous policies, taxes and other types of blackmail, for so-called "lack of transformation".  Never once has the DTI actually recognised the BEE strides that the private sector has made in the last four years - it's always another threat and another law.   What the DTI should do is claim (undeserved) credit for what has been done - maybe that's the converse approach.

And so, as a result of a clear lack of understanding, the DTI is going to make compliance even more onerous.  The upshot will be that scores will drop dramatically.  If this should happen I will go on a single person crusade to educate the larger corporates that they cannot expect such great scores under procurement because the DTI have now made it twice as difficult to comply with a concept that they barely understand. 

 

A BEE regulator for us - maybe, is there a vacant position

The dti is getting proactive, well at least they are proactively saying that they are going to be proactive.  A regulator is going to be introduced to "curtail some forms of fronting".   And this is at the behest of ABVA.  Now that I have paraphrased this article I'm going to cut to the chase.

Chris van Wyk, ABVA's chairman, says that the codes are too vague and as a result "fronting" might occur.  Then Sidwell Medupe states that this is wrong and throws in a PW Botha-ism

 “The dti would like to state categorically that the above-mentioned statement is factually incorrect. In fact our minister has previously alluded to the fact that the verification industry is partly responsible for this scourge.”

The point is made, even though it makes light of Chris' original statement.  But what is the dti going to do about it?  They are responsible for all aspects of BEE.  They provide us with the Act, the Codes, the Charters and............................SILENCE.  That's right, when it comes to the crunch the dti remains silent.  This ridiculous mess with Keith Levenstein and charters is but one example.  Where was the dti when the industry needed them?  Out to lunch I think.  

It's no real surprise that the dti has only ever focused on fronting, labeling it a scourge and vile practice and other euphemisms, because fronting is safe.  You don't have to even understand fronting as well as Levenstein to talk about it.  But we in the know regard the dti's silence on the vagueness of their codes (Chris van Wyk reckons there are about 102 mistakes - he can't have read the codes beyond page 40 then) as a problem.  Consequently we cannot be surprised that the BEE industry (if I may call it that) has had to resort to self-regulation.  In fact the last place you want to go for clarity or advice is the dti.  ABVA must be congratulated for actually managing the industry as well as it has over the last few years, excluding those years when they were completely ABVAcant.

The time has come for the dti to take control, drop the fronting front and show some real leadership.  My sources tell me that Nomonde is doing a great job fighting all sorts of political battles to get stuff done.  Our patience is wearing thin, tell us where we can help (without mentioning fronting) and we'll get involved.

And now a little ditty for the dti (for those who don't know, Sid Vicious played bass about as well as the dti understands BEE, it's not him playing on the track)