The Gap Between B-BBEE and Real Empowerment

Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) was designed to transform South Africa’s economy and create access for historically disadvantaged groups. Its purpose is vital - but in practice, it often doesn’t achieve true empowerment.

Too often, individuals are fast-tracked into ownership or senior positions to meet scorecard requirements - without the mentorship, knowledge, or experience to carry real influence. The result is empowerment on paper, but not empowerment in practice.

Why the Journey Matters

Empowerment is not a title, it’s a journey. Business leaders and entrepreneurs are built by working their way up - through experience, learning, and resilience. When this journey is skipped, the impact is shallow and unsustainable.

This approach often leads to:

• Token roles that tick compliance boxes but don’t build capacity or add value;
• Unbalanced leadership, where responsibility outweighs readiness; and
• Lost opportunities for mentorship, as new entrants lack the guidance of seasoned professionals.

True empowerment takes time, training, and hands-on experience.

B-BBEE as a Licence to Operate

Regardless of its shortcomings, B-BBEE is non-negotiable. It has become a licence to operate in South Africa.

Without a compliant scorecard, businesses are excluded from tenders, finance, supply chains, and even many private-sector opportunities. In reality, companies cannot grow without it.

The challenge is how to go beyond tick-box compliance and make empowerment meaningful.

VDM Attorneys: Empowerment Through Training Property Practitioners

At VDM Attorneys, we believe empowerment must extend beyond ownership structures - it should be about equipping people with the knowledge and skills to thrive.

That’s why we invest heavily in training property practitioners (estate agents) across the industry. Through workshops, masterclasses, and practical training on mandates, FICA, compliance, CSOS, and conveyancing essentials, we help agents build careers rooted in professionalism and trust.

This is where true empowerment happens:

• Agents gain confidence and knowledge to serve their clients better.
• The property industry strengthens, as skilled practitioners raise the standard for everyone.
• Transformation becomes sustainable, because people are empowered with tools that last far beyond a scorecard.

Yes, we train our attorneys too, particulalry in the concept of empowering others - but much of our time and marketing budget is dedicated to ensuring that property practitioners are empowered to grow their businesses, improve compliance, and deliver value to buyers and sellers.

Conclusion

B-BBEE may be the licence to operate in South Africa, but empowerment is the licence to succeed. The real challenge is moving beyond the tick-box to invest in training, mentorship, and growth.

At VDM Attorneys, empowerment isn’t just compliance - it’s a core value. By training property practitioners and raising the standards of the industry, we’re helping to build an empowered property sector that thrives on knowledge, professionalism, and opportunity.