DA seeks support to repeal BEE, blasts ANC 'elite enrichment'

The Democratic Alliance (DA) is set to write to parties both within and outside the Government of National Unity (GNU) to garner support for its Public Procurement Amendment Bill, which aims to repeal Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE).

On Tuesday, the party underscored its campaign by unveiling a large billboard along the N1 highway. The billboard claims the B-BBEE policy has only "enriched ANC elites and left the country poor".

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Despite being a coalition partner with the African National Congress (ANC) in the GNU, the DA on Tueday did not hold back from criticising its partner's flagship policy.

The party asserts that B-BBEE was created solely to benefit ANC-connected business people and that the former liberation movement has failed to lift the majority of South Africans out of poverty.

TheDA's head of policy, Mathew Cuthbert, expressed encouragement following reports in Sunday newspapers suggesting that some ANC members are willing to discuss the party’s Bill.

“We have not formally approached the ANC but we will be writing to all parties in the gnu as well as in parliament to get support for our economic inclusion for all bill because I think it’s important as the crucible of national debates for us to discuss reforming empowerment policy in this country, so that it no longer caters to an elite crew of politically connected individuals but rather there is true economic impact and inclusion through an alternative policy.”

In public media statements, the ANC has indicated its willingness to engage in policy talks; however, it has maintained that it will not be supporting any scrapping of B-BBEE.