Cape Town – The ANC has firmly rejected the DA’s proposal to replace the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) policy, insisting it remains vital for redressing South Africa’s historical inequalities.
ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu said B-BBEE has improved the lives of many black South Africans and would not be scrapped, though amendments could be considered as long as they preserve the policy’s essence.
She accused the DA of attempting to roll back transformation and of being dismissive of racial inequality, citing Helen Zille’s comments about Afrikaners “pulling themselves up by their bootstraps” as evidence of the DA’s insensitivity to South Africa’s past.
“The idea that the DA foresees a future South Africa without transformation laws, starting with triple-BEE, is an idea that must be challenged by all democracy-loving people and patriots, many of whom are beneficiaries of the policy,” said Bhengu.
“I stress that there will not be a day in South Africa when BEE is scrapped as legislation. Like any other piece of legislation amendments are acceptable as long as they do no deviate from the substance of that piece of legislation,” she added.
WATCH| ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu says, “The idea that the DA foresees a future South Africa without transformation laws, starting with triple-BEE, is an idea that must be challenged by all democracy-loving people and patriots, many of whom are beneficiaries of the policy.” pic.twitter.com/RdHPPPdY5E
— SABC News (@SABCNews) October 20, 2025
According to The Citizen, Cosatu also sided with the ANC, with spokesperson Matthew Parks stressing that B-BBEE and employment equity laws are necessary to address the legacy of centuries of racial exclusion.
Parks said the policy has created inclusive opportunities for workers, women, and people with disabilities, and should only be reconsidered once racial inequality has been eradicated.
The DA, however, argues that B-BBEE has failed to uplift the poor and has instead enriched politically connected elites.
DA head of policy Mathew Cuthbert said black unemployment remains alarmingly high at 36%, while nearly 30 million black South Africans live below the poverty line.
He claimed that instead of driving empowerment, B-BBEE has become a “feeding trough” for ANC cadres.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
