ANC statement on BBBEE
7 August 2018
As the Democratic Alliance’s ideological confusion on the broad-based black economic empowerment (BBBEE) policy continues to play itself out in the public domain, the African National Congress wishes to reiterate its consistent and unambiguous position on this transformatory policy instrument.
The ANC is neither shocked nor surprised by the DA’s flip-flopping on BBBEE. We have long exposed the DA as a party committed to defending white privilege and preserving the status quo. The DA’s opposition and active resistance to BBBEE is understandable. Beneficiaries of economic apartheid cannot be expected to support policy measures that broaden access to economic opportunities to the majority of South Africans, and in the process shake the very foundation of white economic privilege.
For the DA to claim that they are ditching black economic empowerment (BEE), because it is "just not working", is extremely disingenuous. It is an excuse for their own deep-seated resistance to economic transformation. Yes, there are serious challenges with regard to some aspects of the implementation of the programme. Indeed, the benefits of BBBEE are still to reach the vast majority of our people. However, these and other challenges cannot be raised as excuses to throw the baby with the bathwater.
We are also concerned that some of the benefits and opportunities brought by Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment, have not gone to their intended beneficiaries as a result of the scourge of fronting. We are encouraged by the visible efforts of our cadres in public sector institutions to address this phenomenon. Fronting defeats and undermines all our efforts at deracialising our economy and undoing the economic inequalities of our ugly past.