Front from right to left: Ms Agnes Tele-Maseloanyane, Acting Deputy-Director General of the Broadening Participation Division of the dti, the Chairperson of the SBL Board, Mrs Xinyamisi Shemane-Diseko and the Executive Director and CEO of the SBL, Prof Valiant Clapper joined by SBL management, academics and administrative staff, forming the Procession during the B-BBEE Certification Ceremony.
The second certification ceremony of the Broad-based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) Management Development Programme (MDP) of the Unisa Graduate School of Business Leadership (SBL) took place on Tuesday, 20 October 2012. This ceremony is regarded as a milestone for the SBL and the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) due to the fact that approximately 300 students have now successfully completed this qualification at the School since its inception in October 2011.
In his welcoming address the acting Executive Director and CEO of the SBL, Prof Valiant Clapper said that the development of this programme has been a process of growth and very hard work for SBL academia as well as administration staff. He said that the B-BBEE will uphold its dynamic nature for some time to come, due to the announcement made by Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Rob Davies on 2 October 2012 that the current generic BEE scorecard will be changed from seven to five elements. Prof Clapper said that when the final changes are announced, after the sixty day period for public comment has expired, SBL academia will be adapting the current curriculum to be geared up for the next intake of B-BBEE students in January 2013. Prof Clapper’s message to students was: “I trust that, as you move into your various fields, you will do so responsibly, informed by the spirit that was envisaged in the original conceptualisation of BEE.”
Keynote speaker at the event was, Ms Agnes Tele-Maseloanyane, Acting Deputy-Director General of the Broadening Participation Division of the dti. With more than 20-years experience in government she is currently responsible for providing advice and managing the strategy and operations of the division. Ms Tele-Maseloanye commended the SBL and Wits Enterprise as partners of the dti for the successful implementation of BEE education. She urged educational institutions and students to stay abreast of new developments in industry standards for B-BBEE. She advised students to use their acquired knowledge to address issues like fronting and “tick-box” compliance. Me Tele-Maseloanyane said that many lessons have been learnt since the commencement of the BEE verification process in 2003 and that BEE was not implemented only to address unequal opportunities of the past but it is an economical imperative for the government and the country.
The B-BBEE MDP is presented at an NQF level 7 with two modes of delivery – one being the Fast Track, which is a one-month programme, the other being the Normal Track which spans over a six-month period. The programme was also delivered in Durban and Cape Town. The SBL plans to expand the regional programmes to other areas in the country in 2013.
The SBL Board Award for the best student for the Fast Track programme went to Mr Yuneal Padayachy. Ms Monique du Plessis received the Board Award for Normal Track. There were also awards for the two best groups that completed the programme. The awards were presented to the students by the Chairperson of the SBL Board Mrs Xinyamisi Shemane-Diseko who, in her congratulatory statement, asked students to use their attained knowledge to assist our country to grow towards the aspiration of equal opportunities for all.
The event was attended by representatives from the dti, the Independent Regulatory Board for Auditors (IRBA), the South African National Accreditation System (SANAS), the Association of BEE Verification Agencies (ABVA), the South African Institute of Professional Accountants (SAIPA) and Wits Enterprise.
The B-BBEE MDP is presented at the SBL after (the dti) asked education and training institutions in 2010 to submit proposals for the development and delivery of the dti Standardised National Qualification for the B-BBEE verification industry. Unisa SBL and Wits Enterprise were awarded the contract.
