The Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment ('B-BBEE") Codes of Good Practice ('the B-BBEE Codes') were published on 9 February 2007 in terms of the B-BBEE Act . They B-BBEE Codes are intended to bring clarity and uniformity to compliance targets and the measurement methodology. 


B-BBEE rests on seven 'pillars' of black people's participation as measured within an enterprise. These pillars are:

• ownership (equity) in the entity by black persons;
• management control of entities by black persons;
• employment equity targets;
• skills development and the transfer of skills to black employees;
• preferential procurement from black owned entities;
• enterprise development of black enterprises; and
• socio - economic development investments.

As transactional attorneys, Webber Wentzel has advised on the largest and most complex B-BBEE transactions done in South Africa to date. In addition to advice on the structuring of transactions to derive maximum B-BBEE benefit, we also provide regulatory and compliance advice on issues such as:

• the interaction between the B-BBEE Codes and various charters which govern enterprises within specific sectors; and
• the interpretation of the B-BBEE Codes and scorecard, the calculation of an enterprise's 'points' and the structuring of an enterprise to improve its BBBEE profile.

For a PDF copy of the B-BBEE Codes from the South African Department of Trade and Industry, please click here.

For more information please see the section on 'Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment" in Investing in South Africa.