This year’s BBQ Awards will take place against the backdrop of a direct attack on BEE by the World Bank. There is mounting pressure to relax BEE regulations, and a pressure group has even lobbied the USA against our transformation agenda. These developments make it clear that lip service to transformation is no longer enough—both the public and private sectors must take concrete steps to deepen economic transformation.
In this edition, we highlight champions who are leading the way. We profile BTI Australia and Thebe Investments—two companies that exemplify both the successes and challenges of transformation. These companies have faced the reality of how international corporations exploit the BEE system rather than uphold its principles. The World Bank’s suggestion to lower BEE requirements assumes that these regulations have been consistently respected. The opposite is true. This false narrative fuels an increasingly emboldened anti-transformation agenda.
We cannot afford to reverse even the smallest of gains. To prevent this, institutions like the IDC, NEF, and related FDIs must embrace their role in reshaping the economy, rather than behaving like commercial banks. Their mandate is to drive transformation, not hinder it.
In this edition, I hope you will enjoy the numerous stories of change. We also bring you analysis on the contentious budget 2025.
Enjoy the read.
Sincerely,
Prof. Onkgopotse JJ Tabane
Editor
