LETTER FROM A CEO – OCTOBER 2025

Having just attended the Future of B-BBEE Symposium, I was struck by some key statistics. Less than 10% of African and Coloured students between the ages of 25 to 29 complete their post-schooling degrees, with Indian students around 20%, and White students around 50%. This highlights the ongoing challenge of youth unemployment in South Africa. Education and job creation are the keys to addressing this, while B-BBEE and EE alone cannot solve it.

As business owners, we have the power to make a difference! Your SKILLS ELEMENT can positively impact your company, your staff, and even lives beyond the workplace. Both employed and unemployed South Africans qualify, and even small efforts can add up to meaningful change.

With the end of the year approaching, it’s time to start thinking about 2026 budget reviews and SKILLS targets. Every contribution matters. Interestingly, out of all B-BBEE certificates issued in 2023, nearly 51% were level 1-3 contributors, 10% at level 4, 16% at levels 5-7, and 23% were non-compliant. This highlights the need for continued focus on skills development.

The takeaway is clear: B-BBEE is here to stay, and as business leaders, we can influence change through proactive skills development. Let’s make 2026 a year of meaningful impact!