Big shake-up coming for B-BBEE? DA reveals surprising move
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has intensified its campaign for a new legislative framework to replace Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE), arguing that the policy has failed to achieve genuine economic inclusion for most South Africans.
DA policy head Mat Cuthbert said the party is preparing to table an alternative bill that focuses on broad economic participation rather than race-based empowerment. According to Cuthbert, BBBEE in its current form has benefited a small politically connected elite while leaving the majority of black South Africans economically excluded.
“We need a system that empowers all disadvantaged South Africans, not one that enriches a few through government contracts and corruption,” Cuthbert said. “The DA’s proposal will focus on creating jobs, supporting small businesses, and investing in education and skills development.”
The party argues that South Africa’s empowerment policies have been captured by patronage networks within the ruling African National Congress (ANC), leading to widespread corruption and inefficiency in both the public and private sectors. The DA believes a shift toward a “non-racial, opportunity-based” approach would better address inequality and stimulate economic growth.
Critics of the DA’s position, however, say scrapping BBBEE could reverse hard-won gains in racial equity, with some analysts warning that removing race as a factor in empowerment policies risks deepening structural inequalities.Cuthbert countered that the DA’s approach is not anti-transformation but rather a reimagining of empowerment to ensure that those truly in need—across all backgrounds—benefit directly from economic reform.
As debates around the country’s economic future intensify, the DA’s proposal is likely to reignite fierce discussions on race, privilege, and policy effectiveness in South Africa’s post-apartheid economy.
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