WHAT WE DO

EMPOWERMENT DEAL OPINIONS

The BEE Commission was set up to investigate and provide guidance on empowerment-related activities, this mostly revolves around ownership. Our experience shows that BEE Commissioner opinions are often produced because of a complaint. The Commission is also known to publicise the fact that companies are to be investigated before they have been investigated. The reputational risk of an unsolicited BEE Commissioner report is often an unwelcome piece of publicity.
Caird will advise you on the best method of complying with the relevant code of good practice or other legislation like the Mining Charter.

FORENSIC INVESTIGATIONS

If you believe that your competitors are from fronting or misrepresenting their BEE a status we will. Investigate this on your behalf and report back to you. Our team of legal representatives will advise you on the best method of dealing with this report.

GENERAL OPINIONS

Over the last 12 years Caird has been requested to supply strong opinions on a myriad empowerment-related issues. A few of these opinions are available for download below. Our expertise covers the complete a bit of empowerment legislation from ESKOM’s now defunct ASGISA policy through to every element in the codes of good practice.

SKILLS DEVELOPMENT

We are strategic partners of a skills development facilitating company that is able to generate almost all the points under skills development by making use of the tax breaks that the Employee Tax Incentive (ETI) provides. This is the most cost effective skills development solution.

JOINT VENTURE BEE CERTIFICATES

Caird pioneered the methodology used in the industry to calculate an unincorporated joint venture’s BEE score. We use reputable SANAS verification agencies to issue these certificates within a short timeframe. We will calculate the scorecard and submit the necessary documentation to the relevant agency and ensure the certificate is issued in time.

EQUITY EQUIVALENT PROJECTS

Equity equivalent options outside of the Financial Sector Code are available to multinationals that are not able to conclude an equity transaction. Many multinationals would far rather go down this precarious route than conclude a deal. Caird has partnered with a non-profit organisation that has been accepted as an equity equivalent project by the Department of Trade and Industry. Caird can assist any multinational in putting these programmes together.

ADVOCACY

Empowerment is a politically sensitive topic. Paul Janisch has authored the well read BEE blog for over 12 years. Many of his posts are read around the globe and cited in numerous academic and industry articles. Paul has a mission to ensure that the correct information regarding empowerment is disseminated.

OTHER AFRICAN EMPOWERMENT INITIATIVES.

Paul has chaired and presented at two conferences on the Namibian New Equitable Economic Empowerment Framework (Neeef). Paul is a recognised authority on NEEEF and other African empowerment programmes. Caird advises companies wishing to enter those countries on the empowerment programmes and how to comply with their requirements.

TRAINING AND SEMINARS

We know empowerment, we know government procurement policies. We know the tricks and we know the fixes. We can customise training programmes for any company to meet their specific requirements.
As a general rule we offer these talks and seminars to the non profit sector at no charge.