What is a BEE Certificate?

A BEE-rating certificate is a document that indicates a company’s level of BEE compliance. A level one contributor is the highest achievable status and the lowest level of BEE compliance is level eight. The higher the BEE status level, the stronger a company is in relation to its competition. Companies should aim to achieve a higher status level annually.

The different levels of compliance for B-BBEE depend largely on the size and turnover of a business. The three levels of compliance, therefore, are:

Exempted Micro Enterprises (EMEs): These businesses have a yearly income of less than R 10 million.

Qualifying Small Enterprises (QSEs): These businesses’ yearly income lies between R 10 and R 50 million.

Medium to Large Enterprises (M&Ls): And these businesses have an income above R 50 million each year.

For a newly registered company or a company trading less than R 10 Million which becomes exempt, A B-BBEE Affidavit signed by a Commissioner of Oaths will be required instead of the B-BBEE certificate. Once the Affidavit has been stamped by a Commissioner of Oaths, the Affidavit serves as a B-BBEE certificate as no other verification is required for Exempted Micro Enterprises

The grading of the BEE level will be distinguished by the following:

100% Black Owned Level One (135% B-BBEE procurement recognition level)

51% Black Owned Level Two (125% B-BBEE procurement recognition level)

Less than 51% Black Owned Level Four (100% B-BBEE procurement recognition level)

The certificate is valid for a year and renewed annually based on evidence submitted for BEE implementation during the period under measurement.