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Coalition partner and South Africa’s second-largest political party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), has proposed repealing key legislation designed to promote Black economic participation.
The party said on Monday it would introduce an “Economic Inclusion for All” bill to replace the country’s Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) framework. The proposal would amend the Public Procurement Act of 2024, which currently gives preference to Black-owned or Black-managed companies when bidding for government contracts.
The DA argues that the BEE system has failed to uplift the majority of Black South Africans, claiming it has instead encouraged corruption, stifled job creation, and enriched only a politically connected elite. The party also wants to remove references to Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment — the ruling ANC’s flagship affirmative action policy — from all existing legislation.
The African National Congress insists that BEE remains essential to redress the inequalities of apartheid and has accused the DA of seeking to protect white privilege. The DA has rejected those accusations.
President Cyril Ramaphosa on Tuesday dismissed the DA’s proposal, reaffirming the government’s commitment to its transformation agenda and saying that BEE “remains a vital instrument for building an inclusive economy.”
The debate underscores one of South Africa’s most enduring political divides — how to balance economic growth with redress for the legacy of racial exclusion under white-minority rule.
