12 June 2025
Blaai af vir Afrikaanse weergawe.
The Free Market Foundation and Solidarity Research Institute launch landmark report on the costs of BEE compliance.
South Africa’s economic trajectory has been dramatically undermined by the zealous promulgation of Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE), according to a major new study released today by the Free Market Foundation (FMF) and the Solidarity Research Institute (SRI).
The report, titled “The Costs of BEE Compliance,” reveals that B-BBEE policies are costing the South African economy up to R290 billion per year — equivalent to 2–4% of GDP, or up to 192,000 lost jobs annually.
Over nearly two decades, the cumulative drag on growth amounts to more than R5 trillion in lost economic activity, leaving South Africa far behind its global peers while destroying close to 4 million jobs in the process.
“Our findings show that BEE, as currently designed, is enriching a small elite while throttling economic dynamism and deepening unemployment,” says Dr Morné Malan, FMF Senior Associate and co-author of the report, speaking at the joint press conference.
“From the ordinary South African’s perspective, we all are stuck in an enormous negative-sum game. The system is not simply benefitting some at the expense of others. In fact, we are all paying the price.”
The report draws on data from the B-BBEE Commission, Stats SA, the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, and international comparisons to assess the real costs of compliance across the key BEE scorecard elements: ownership, skills development, enterprise and supplier development, management control, and socio-economic development.
The report argues that current policies have become economically unsustainable and increasingly divorced from meaningful grassroots empowerment.
“BEE policies cannot simply be viewed as a trade-off between economic efficiency and broader inclusion. The fact is that these provisions have done major harm to the South African economy, with little if any benefit on the other end,” says FMF Head of Policy, Martin van Staden.
“There are better ways to build a growing and prosperous economy. We urgently need to move from race-based redistribution to opportunity-based economic freedom.”
The study compares South Africa’s model with global “affirmative action” policies in Malaysia, India, Brazil, the US, and Namibia, showing that South Africa’s version is the most intrusive and economically damaging.
Key findings include:
- R145–290 billion in annual direct compliance costs
- Up to 192,000 jobs lost annually
- GDP growth reduced by 1.5–3% per year
- B-BBEE benefits largely captured by politically connected elites
- South Africa now ranks 139th in GDP per capita, down from 87th in 1994
“Rather than broad-based empowerment, B-BBEE has wrought broad-based economic stagnation. While there are numerous anti-business policies in South Africa that the FMF through its Liberty First initiative recommends reforming, this report shows that BEE and its related laws and policies represent perhaps the largest single threat to economic growth, prosperity, and yes, even inclusion, currently on the books,” concludes Malan.
Click here to read the full report.
Ends.
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Nuwe FMF-navorsing ontbloot skokkende R5 biljoen ekonomiese las van BEE-nakoming
12 Junie 2025
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Die Vryemarkstigting en Solidariteit Navorsingsinstituut stuur baanbrekersverslag oor die kostes van BEE-nakoming van stapel.
Suid-Afrika se ekonomiese koers word dramaties ondermyn deur die ywerige implementering van Breë-Basis Swart Ekonomiese Bemagtiging (SEB), volgens ‘n belangrike nuwe studie wat vandag deur die Vryemarkstigting (FMF) en die Solidariteit Navorsingsinstituut (SNI) vrygestel is.
Die verslag, getiteld “Die Kostes van BEE-Nakoming,” openbaar dat SEB-beleide die Suid-Afrikaanse ekonomie tot R290 miljard per jaar kos – gelykstaande aan 2–4% van BBP, of tot 192,000 verlore werksgeleenthede jaarliks.
Oor byna twee dekades beloop die kumulatiewe rem op groei meer as R5 biljoen in verlore ekonomiese aktiwiteit, wat Suid-Afrika ver agter sy globale eweknieë laat terwyl dit byna 4 miljoen werksgeleenthede vernietig het.
“Ons bevindinge toon dat SEB, soos dit tans ontwerp is, ‘n klein elite verryk terwyl dit ekonomiese aktiwiteit verstik en werkloosheid verdiep,” sê dr. Morné Malan, FMF Senior Medewerker en mede-outeur van die verslag, tydens die gesamentlike perskonferensie.
“Vanuit die gewone Suid-Afrikaner se perspektief sit ons almal vas in ‘n enorme negatiewe-somspel. Die stelsel baat nie net sommige ten koste van ander nie. In werklikheid betaal ons almal die prys.”
Die verslag maak gebruik van data van die SEB-kommissie, Stats SA, die Johannesburgse Effektebeurs, en internasionale vergelykings om die werklike kostes van nakoming oor die sleutel-SEB-telleringselemente te evalueer: eienaarskap, vaardigheidsontwikkeling, ondernemings- en verskaffersontwikkeling, bestuursbeheer, en sosio-ekonomiese ontwikkeling.
Die verslag voer aan dat huidige beleide ekonomies onvolhoubaar is, en toenemend onverwant is aan betekenisvolle bemagtiging op voetsoolvlak.
“BEE-beleide kan nie eenvoudig as ‘n keuse tussen ekonomiese doeltreffendheid en breër insluiting gesien word nie. Die feit is dat hierdie voorskrifte groot skade aan die Suid-Afrikaanse ekonomie berokken het, met min, indien enige, voordeel aan die ander kant,” sê FMF Beleidhoof, Martin van Staden.
“Daar is beter maniere om ‘n groeiende en voorspoedige ekonomie op te bou. Ons het dringend nodig om van rasgebaseerde herverdeling na geleentheidgebaseerde ekonomiese vryheid te beweeg.”
Die studie vergelyk Suid-Afrika se model met globale “regstellende aksie”-beleide in Maleisië, Indië, Brasilië, die VSA, en Namibië, en toon dat Suid-Afrika se weergawe die mees indringend en ekonomies skadelik is.
Belangrike bevindinge sluit in:
- R145–290 miljard in jaarlikse direkte nakomingskoste
- Tot 192,000 werksgeleenthede jaarliks verlore
- BBP-groei met 1.5–3% per jaar verminder
- SEB-voordele word grootliks deur polities gekonnekteerde elites bemagtig
- Suid-Afrika rangskik nou 139de in BBP per capita, af van 87ste in 1994
“Eerder as breë-gebaseerde bemagtiging, het SEB breë-gebaseerde ekonomiese stagnasie teweeggebring. Terwyl daar talle anti-vryeondernemingsbeleide in Suid-Afrika is wat die FMF deur sy Liberty First-inisiatief aanbeveel om te hervorm, toon hierdie verslag dat SEB en sy verwante wette en beleide dalk die grootste enkelbedreiging vir ekonomiese groei, voorspoed, en ja, selfs insluiting, op die huidige oomblik verteenwoordig,” sluit Malan af.
Klik hier om die volledige verslag te lees.
Einde.
