CIPC Guides
How to Get a B-BBEE Certificate in South Africa
5 MIN READ · CIPC GUIDES
B-BBEE stands for Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment. Your B-BBEE certificate rates your business on a scale that shows how your company contributes to economic transformation in South Africa. Whether you need one, and what type, depends entirely on your annual turnover and what you are trying to do with the certificate.
Government entities and large corporations are legally required to consider B-BBEE status when selecting suppliers. A higher B-BBEE level (Level 1 being the best) means more points in tender evaluations. Many private sector companies — particularly listed entities and multinationals — also require a B-BBEE certificate from their suppliers as part of their own compliance programmes. If your target customers include government departments, state-owned enterprises, or large corporates, your B-BBEE status directly affects your competitiveness.
| Company Size | Annual Turnover | B-BBEE Classification | What You Need |
|---|---|---|---|
| EME | Below R10 million | Exempt Micro Enterprise — automatic Level 4, or Level 1 if 51%+ black-owned, Level 2 if 30%+ black-owned | A sworn affidavit from a commissioner of oaths. No audit required. |
| QSE | R10 million to R50 million | Qualifying Small Enterprise — scored on 2 of 5 elements | Formal verification by an accredited B-BBEE verification agency. |
| Large Enterprise | Above R50 million | Full generic scorecard — all 5 elements scored | Full verification by an accredited agency across all elements. |
If your annual turnover is below R10 million, you qualify as an EME. You do not need to pay a verification agency. You simply need a sworn affidavit signed by a commissioner of oaths (typically a police station, bank, or attorney's office) confirming your turnover and ownership structure. The affidavit must state your annual turnover, the percentage of black ownership, and whether the owner qualifies as a black woman. This affidavit is your B-BBEE certificate for EME purposes.
An EME automatically receives B-BBEE Level 4. If your company is 51% or more black-owned, you get Level 1. If it is 30% or more black-owned, you get Level 2. No verification agency, no audit, no cost beyond the commissioner of oaths fee (usually R20 to R50).
If your turnover is between R10 million and R50 million, you need formal verification by an accredited agency. QSEs are measured on the best two of five B-BBEE elements: ownership, management control, skills development, enterprise and supplier development, and socio-economic development. You choose which two elements to be measured on, so strategy matters.
The cost of QSE verification through an accredited agency typically ranges from R8,000 to R25,000 depending on the complexity of your business structure and how prepared your documentation is. The process involves submitting evidence of your performance against the elements you selected, followed by an on-site or desktop review by the agency.
B-BBEE verification agencies must be accredited by the South African National Accreditation System (SANAS) or the Independent Regulatory Board for Auditors (IRBA). A list of accredited agencies is available on the B-BBEE Commission website at bbbeecommission.co.za. Only accept certificates from accredited agencies — unaccredited certificates have no legal standing and using one in a tender submission is considered fraudulent.
B-BBEE certificates are valid for 12 months from the date of issue. Plan your renewal before expiry — if your Annual Returns or Beneficial Ownership Declaration have lapsed, some verification agencies will flag this during the verification process. Keep your CIPC compliance current alongside your B-BBEE renewal.
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