Association Of B-BBEE Professionals (ABP) | About ABP

About ABP

ABP guides the development of the industry by standardizing the ratings methodology, setting the standards for ethical behaviour, professional development and the achievement of excellence in the profession.

For 16 years, ABP has been a pioneer in the South African BEE landscape, contribution to the advancement of the BEE profession, influencing legislation and constantly transforming to keep abreast of business, financial and social developments in the country.

The Economic Empowerment Professional (EEP) designation is a nationally recognised designation awarded to the BEE Professionals practicing in the field either as BEE Verification Professionals, BEE Consulting Professionals and Corporate Transformation Managers and Practitioners affirming their astute knowledge and skills in the understanding and application of the Codes of Good Practice on B-BBEE. The designation is awarded to experienced persons who have also successfully completed the B-BBEE Management Development Program (MDP) which is a post graduate programme offered by UNISA and Wits Business Enterprise

Objectives: ABP’s main objectives are to

  • Promote the objectives of the Act and the Codes;
  • To promote high levels of professionalism and competence;
  • To regulate the proper conduct and practice of Members;
  • To represent the BEE verification sector in its dealings with the dtic, SANAS, the public and
  • Other relevant stakeholders

Four of the many benefits you can enjoy by joining a Professional Body.

  • Recognition: When you become a Member of your Professional Body, you become truly recognised as a qualified Professional in your field.
  • Continuous Professional Development: Most Professional Bodies conduct training sessions from time to time and they offer discounted fees to their Members. By joining our Professional Body, you will directly enjoy this benefit. This will greatly enrich your CV, make you current and relevant in competences and skills.
  • Leadership development: When you become a Member of your Professional Body, you have the opportunity to volunteer towards helping organise their events and conferences, towards membership development and so on.
  • Networking: Being a Member of your Professional Body gives you a great opportunity to network with numerous people in your profession. This is one of the easiest ways to quickly and greatly expand the reach of your networking.

 The many other benefits of membership

  • Receive EAP targets and Industry Norms;
  • Kept up to date with pertinent information;
  • Attendance at training workshops, seminars and Annual General Meeting (AGM);
  • You may stand for election and be voted to become part of the ABP Board at ABP’s elective AGM every two years;
  • Listing on the ABP website in the appropriate category;
  • Access to the ABP Members only certificate database (once a Member, you will receive a username and password that allows you to upload your own client’s BEE certificate onto our certificate database);
  • In addition, queries that are technical or interpretive in nature, can be submitted to the ABP who will raise these, in the approved format with the dtic and SANAS to provide support in respect of requests for clarification and the management of these with the dtic;
  • The ABP will co-ordinate Members’ interests to better serve the interests of transformation by formally requesting clarity, consultation or participation in key strategic events, policies or pronouncements relating to transformation;
  • Greater emphasis on access to information, centralised databases and shared data will support our Members;
  • Stronger lobbying on issues that create uncertainty and legal conflict;
  • Ethics and disciplinary committee to address professionalism and governance ;
  • Regular events, training and information sharing; and
  • Co-ordinated emphasis on Professionalisation as a means to reduce confusion within the industry, conflict amongst the Member groups and most importantly to root out bad business practice.

ABP – professionalizing the industry – raising the bar

  • Advocate for formal engagement with the dtic
  • As a Professional Body, we represent our Members on formal structures.
  • Answered a call by the dtic for a single or consolidated professional Industry Body
  • Working on professionalizing the industry

Governance: ABP is registered as a Section 21 Company and governed by the ABP Constitution and the requirements of Company’s Act.

This website serves as a resource for ABP Members, the Verification Industry at large, and for the corporate sector looking for more information on B-BEEE Verification. ABP prides itself on being a valuable tool in the growth of the Verification Industry, and in the advancement and development of B-BBEE good practices in accordance with Government policy.

The amalgamation of Association of BEE Professionals (“ABP”), the National Association of BEE Consultants (“NABC”) and the South African Institute of Professional Accountants (“SAIPA”) has welcomed the merger of the two bodies and has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (“MoU”) with the new institute ABP to participate in their initiatives, to serve the interests of the BEE industry

NABC is the recognised Members’ body for BEE Consultants, while ABP is the recognised Members’ body for BEE Verification Professionals, and considers the amalgamation to be mutually beneficial, establishing a single point of contact for engagement with the dtic, combining its membership to derive economies of scale, align in efforts to professionalise the industry and enhancing the positive impact on transformation and Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment specifically.

The Executive Committees of both organisations have invested considerable time in the last year to engage with the dtic to support changes in legislation and the desired clarification around these changes. We believe that a dedicated BEE Industry Body has a significant role to play in the future of BEE in South Africa and it is our desire to continue to serve on the dtic’s Joint Technical Committee (“JTC”) in support of the policy.

Why the Amalgamated Body?

  • Re-aligning our position – inclusive not exclusive
  • Important to speak with ONE voice when representing the industry
  • A single Code of Conduct for all industry players – one channel for raising complaints and appeals
  • Standardized qualification criteria and a single CPD programme for all Members
  • Consistent application of the Codes with the same interpretation
  • Unified and intensified engagements with the dtic – BEE Custodian
  • Current membership includes BEE Verification Agencies (VAs), Individual BEE Consultants, BEE Consulting Firms, Corporates, Accounting Officers & Auditors

The new ABP

  • All three bodies being represented and forming ONE Industry Body
  • ABP & NABC Members merges into ABP
  • ABP & SAIPA forms a formal working relationship via a MoU
  • Caters for all industry players
    • BEE Verification Professionals – VAs
    • BEE Consulting Professionals – Consultants
    • BEE Practising Professionals – Private and Public experts