A critical appraisal of the misapplications of black economic empowerment and the common misperceptions that surround it.

Abstract

Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment is a regulatory framework, which is unique to South Africa. This dissertation reflects upon the evolution of Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment programme, from the commencement of apartheid to date. Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment was implemented by government, with the objective of resolving the injustices created by the apartheid regime. Government seeks to achieve this objective by integrating the historically disadvantaged individuals within South Africa into the mainstream of the economy. However, the reality is that the implementation of the Black Economic Empowerment programme has not been entirely successful. This dissertation is a critical analysis of the application of Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment and related legislation. It aims to highlight the challenges faced by government in enforcing the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment programme, with a particular focus on the following issues: fronting, misrepresentations and common misperceptions. This dissertation begins by reflecting upon the historical context of South Africa toward democratization, secondly it analyses the current applicable legislation and explores the current issues. This research shows that Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment is essentially a work in progress programme as there is much room for improvement. Scholars have established that companies and other entities regularly circumvent the Act. Furthermore, many individuals misunderstand the programme and its purpose. The research concludes Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment does have potential for success. In considering the approach taken by Malaysia, it is established that the key to overcome these major issues is education.