By Umamah Bakharia

The DA wants to introduce a private members’ bill in parliament that, according to them, would lead to the scrapping of broad-based black economic empowerment, better known as BBBEE.

In an address to the media, the DA says that the BBBEE benefitted a few politically connected people and replaced one elite with another.

Speaking to Radio Islam, DA spokesperson on trade, industry and completion’s Dean Macpherson says governments attempt to broaden opportunities for South Africans have failed. In return, the DA wants to “take the focus off race and allow businesses to invest in social impact opportunities.”

“We think there is far more money to be gained, we can cut out the corruption and we can see real opportunity and real development in communities where it is needed the most,” says Macpherson.

The DA says the bill will evaluate how the opportunity provides ‘value-for-money’ in a competitive bid and the basis of a development goal.

“It allows for much better transparency in how government money is actually spent,” says Macpherson.

He adds that currently government awards tenders to people based on what they look like and what they are connected to.