A Bee Certificate is a document that verifies the level of black economic empowerment of an enterprise. It is used to indicate the extent to which a business has met the requirements of the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) Act 53 of 2003.
Types of Bee Certificates
There are two types of Bee Certificates:
- Generic Bee Certificates - issued by an accredited Bee Verification Agency and are valid for twelve months from the date of issue
- Sworn Affidavit - issued by the business owner and must be submitted on an annual basis
Requirements for a Bee Certificate
In order to apply for a Bee Certificate, there are certain documents and requirements that a business must have:
- Registration documents (CK1, CK2, CM46 or CM9)
- Identification documents of all directors/members/shareholders
- Certified copies of ID documents of all employees, including the race classification of each employee
- Financial statements of the company for the past year
- Proof of payment of the verification fee to the Bee Verification Agency
Steps to Apply for a Bee Certificate
Here are the steps to follow when applying for a Bee Certificate:
Step 1: Prepare the Required Documents
Make sure you have all the required documents listed above before you start the application process. Ensure that the information contained in these documents is accurate and up to date.
Step 2: Identify a Verification Agency
Choose an accredited Bee Verification Agency to verify your business. Ensure that the agency is accredited by the South African National Accreditation System (SANAS).
Step 3: Submit the Required Documents to the Verification Agency
Submit all the required documents to the Verification Agency. It is important to note that the verification process could take up to a month or longer.
Step 4: Receive the Bee Certificate
Once the verification process is complete, the Verification Agency will issue the Bee Certificate if your business has met the BBBEE requirements. The Bee Certificate is valid for twelve months from the date of issue.
Conclusion
Applying for a Bee Certificate does not have to be a complicated process. It is important to ensure that you have all the required documents and use an accredited Verification Agency to verify your business. By following the steps outlined above, you can obtain a Bee Certificate and ensure that your business is compliant with BBBEE regulations.
