Competition Policy in BEE

Join SCIS and MISTRA as we discuss the role of competition policy within the broad-based black economic empowerment (B-BBEE) framework.

The Southern Centre for Inequality Studies (SCIS) in collaboration with the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection (MISTRA) will host a webinar that explores the role of competition policy within the broad-based black economic empowerment (B-BBEE) framework.

In 2019, the Competition Amendment Bill was signed into law which amongst others, made changes that broadly called for South African businesses to purchase and price sales and acquisitions in a manner that ensured inclusive participation in the economy. This amendment bill has been interpreted as the Competition Commission’s progress towards expanding and maintaining black ownership in acquisition deals and yet the Commission’s ability to block sales has prompted questions of whose interest they are acting in. How do we balance competing priorities around promoting increased shareholding by historically disadvantaged persons without causing unintended consequences that potentially damage South Africa’s investment attractiveness when setting a high standard of black economic empowerment (BEE) compliance?

This webinar will unpack the following questions and interrogate how competition policy in the case of B-BBEE can decrease market dominance using recent ‘Burger King Deal’ as a case study from which to draw lessons:

1. Are BEE entrepreneurs reinforcing or altering market concentration in economic sectors?
2. Can the black capitalist class contribute to industrial transformation and competitiveness when market entry terms are dictated by the very conglomerates they have to transform and compete with?

This event forms part of a SCIS review of black economic policy in South Africa undertaken with support of the Open Society Foundation (OSF).

Guest Speakers

• Eddie Rakabe is a Fiscal Policy Specialist at the Financial and Fiscal Commission (FFC) of South Africa
• Hardin Ratshisusu is Deputy Commissioner at the Competition Commission of South Africa
• Liberty Mncube is Managing Director at FTI Consulting and Professor of Economics at Wits
• Nwabisa Nontenja is an Associate Researcher at the Centre for Competition, Regulation and Economic Development (CCRED)
• Stuart Theobald is co-founder and Executive Chairman of Intellidex

Facilitator

Ayabonga Cawe, Research Associate| Southern Centre for Inequality Studies

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