Although the transition period for compliance with new BEE codes has been extended to April 2015, even that new date is unlikely to be met, according to specialist consultant Keith Levenstein of Econobee. This delay made sense, he told FTW. “First, there was the need to give companies time to adjust to the new sectoral codes,” he noted. “But the department of trade and industry (dti) postponing the implementation date from last October to this October was just not long enough for this adjustment.” However, what was more important, Levenstein added, was that the dti had to issue a lot of new codes which still have to be updated in response to stakeholders’ submissions. “Added to that, they haven’t even started on the transport sector code,” he commented, “and wouldn’t be able to complete the full process by October this year.” The reason behind this, according to Levenstein, was that even once the draft code was made public, a whole host of stakeholders and stakeholder bodies would still have to make comment on the draft. “This would include the top companies in the transport sector, labour, the unions, Transnet and all the other government departments involved,” he said. Indeed, given all the procedures which still have to be complied with, Levenstein expressed serious doubt if even another year will be sufficient time. But the good news, he added, was that the dti did announce the one-year extension early. “We feared it would only be announced on the day of supposed implementation.” INSERT & CAPTION Once the draft code is made public, a whole host of stakeholders will still have to make comment on it. – Keith Levenstein
