Former President Kgalema Motlanthe Strongly Defends B-BBEE at Frank Dialogue Event, Calls Criticisms Deeply Flawed
Johannesburg, 07 October 2025 – Former President Kgalema Motlanthe has come out in firm defence of Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment, arguing that attacks on the policy are based on weak reasoning. Speaking at the Frank Dialogue event on the future of B-BBEE, Motlanthe pointed to solid research showing the rise of the Black middle class since democracy began. He stressed that scrapping the policy would ignore its role in fixing apartheid’s deep scars.
This comes as B-BBEE faces growing pushback at home and abroad, with critics saying it hurts business, ignores skills and favours those with political links. Motlanthe echoed calls from the B-BBEE Commissioner to tweak and strengthen the policy instead of dumping it. As South Africa marks over 20 years since BEE started in 2003, this talk highlights ongoing debates on how to build a fairer economy. With inequality still high, leaders like Motlanthe say tools like B-BBEE are key to real change, even if not perfect.
The event brought together thinkers and officials to look at B-BBEE’s path ahead, amid talks of its impact on jobs and growth. Motlanthe’s words add weight to the push for keeping and improving empowerment efforts in a country still healing from past wrongs.
Event Overview and B-BBEE’s Background
The Frank Dialogue event, held in Johannesburg, focused on the future of Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment. Hosted by Prof JJ Tabane with keynotes from Motlanthe and Minister Parks Tau, it drew a crowd keen on shaping the policy’s next steps.
BEE was first brought in as a policy in 2003 to fix the economic gaps left by apartheid. Now called Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment or B-BBEE, it aims to give Black South Africans better chances in business, jobs and skills. Over two decades on, it has helped grow access to education and work, but faces heat for not doing enough or being open to abuse.
Critics say it slows business by pushing deals based on race over merit, and often helps only those with strong political ties. Some push to drop it, seeing it as a block to foreign investment and fair play. But backers like Motlanthe argue it has driven real gains, like the Black middle class jumping from a small group in 1994 to millions today, backed by studies on income and education rises.
Motlanthe’s Strong Defence of the Policy
Motlanthe did not hold back in backing B-BBEE, calling out flaws in the arguments against it. He tied its success to the growth of the Black middle class since 1994, saying research proves the point.
“Imperfect as this may be, it wouldn’t have happened without the deliberate access to education, affirmative hiring, and enterprise development.”
He said these steps have opened doors that were shut under apartheid, leading to more Black people in good jobs, starting businesses and building wealth. Motlanthe argued that without B-BBEE, the country would still see big gaps in who owns what and who gets ahead.
His talk fits with his past views on fair change, drawing from his time as president and work with his foundation on social justice.
Addressing Key Criticisms Head-On
Motlanthe took aim at common knocks on B-BBEE, saying they do not stack up against the facts. He pointed out that claims of it hurting merit or only helping the elite ignore how it has lifted many through skills training and fair hiring.
On the business side, he noted that while some see it as a hurdle, it has sparked growth in Black-owned firms and partnerships that boost the economy. Research shows the Black middle class has grown thanks to these efforts, with more people finishing school and getting better pay.
He also backed the B-BBEE Commissioner’s view that the policy needs fixes, not the bin. Tweaks could make it fairer and cut abuse, like fronting where deals look Black-led but are not.
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