Tag: socio-economic development

Even with South Africa almost 30 years into its democracy, Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) 'Fronting Practice' is still a widespread practice that significantly undermines the creation of a more equal and prosperous South African society.

The agricultural sector across sub-Saharan Africa is critical to local and regional economies as a developmental base for food security and employment. Within it, there remains an invisible force driving productivity in the region and across the world.

The Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) Commission’s latest report on empowerment trends shows a decrease in overall black ownership, as well as in black women ownership. The B-BBEE Commission has released its annual trends report for the 2021 calendar year.

Illegal mining is a critical challenge in the South African mining and minerals industry. The South African government previously recognised the potential of small scale mining operations to increase the portfolio of minerals being produced and possibly lead to the exploitation of resources that would otherwise be sterilised.

Capitalism has long been attacked with the argument that it leads to individualism, which is a social evil. It wasn’t a very clear or cogent argument but it was popular. I should note that conflating markets with 'capitalism' is erroneous.

When the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) Act was introduced in 2003, the goal was to meet specific economic transformation goals by creating an environment where more black persons could be part of the ownership, management, procurement, and skills development process to drive socio-economic development.

The construction industry can play a critical role in helping address the recent hard knocks to the South African economy, but it needs the willingness and, more importantly, the action of all stakeholders to succeed. This was the overwhelming sentiment at a recent conference hosted by Construction Alliance South Africa (CASA) and headline we sponsored.

The current COVID-19 pandemic, and the lockdown implemented by the South African government, has had a significantly negative impact on businesses. Some have only recently been able to commence operations with the start of the current alert level 1 status.

As increasingly more investors begin to question the purpose and impact of their investments, beyond a singular focus on return, unlisted alternative assets have demonstrated how supporting environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) principles can generate solid returns for investors, while also having a tangible, positive and lasting impact.

An interview with Safiyya Patel, Partner, Webber Wentzel, and Dr Ivor Blumenthal, CEO, ArkKonsult, discussing the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) Commission’s latest report on empowerment trends in 2019.