A B-BBEE certificate is the proof of your B-BBEE status that customers ask for. What you need depends on your size: an exempted micro enterprise (EME, annual revenue of R10 million or less) uses a sworn affidavit or a free CIPC certificate, while a larger business, or a qualifying small enterprise (QSE) that is under 51% black owned, needs a verification certificate from a SANAS-accredited agency. This is the bee certificate South Africa buyers mean.
Certificates and affidavits are valid for 12 months, so you renew every year. Source: CIPC B-BBEE certification and the B-BBEE Commission Practice Guide 01 of 2022.
Business Requirements at a Glance
Under the Codes of Good Practice, enterprises are sized by annual total revenue. The Codes use these categories (Statement 000):
- EME: R10 million or less. Needs only a sworn affidavit or a CIPC certificate each year.
- QSE: between R10 million and R50 million. A QSE that is at least 51% black owned can also use an annual sworn affidavit; other QSEs comply with the QSE scorecard and are verified.
- Large enterprise: R50 million or more. Must be verified by a SANAS-accredited agency.
Only a verification professional accredited by SANAS can issue a verification certificate. For an EME, the valid documents are a sworn affidavit or a certificate issued by CIPC, which has the same status as an affidavit.
Registration and Legal Requirements
The Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Act 53 of 2003, as amended by Act 46 of 2013, governs B-BBEE, and the B-BBEE Commission is the regulator. Misrepresenting your B-BBEE status, or engaging in fronting, is an offence. You can be fined or imprisoned, and a company can be fined up to 10% of annual turnover.
To use the CIPC route, the enterprise must meet these conditions (per the Commission practice guide):
- Only a director of a company or a member of a close corporation may apply.
- Annual turnover is under R10 million.
- The entity status on CIPC is “In Business” and Annual Returns are up to date.
- You hold only one valid certificate at a time.
If your company has a foreign director or member, you cannot use the CIPC service. Complete an affidavit and have it commissioned instead; once stamped by a commissioner of oaths, it serves as your B-BBEE certificate (CIPC Notice 25 of 2025).
Documents and Ownership Information Required
The dtic sworn affidavit template for EMEs asks for:
- the deponent’s name and ID number, and role (member, director or owner)
- the enterprise name, registration number and address
- black, black female and designated-group ownership percentages
- the latest financial year-end and confirmation that revenue was R10,000,000 or less
- the level ticked for your ownership
The dtic publishes four affidavit templates (EME and QSE, each in General and Specialised Entity versions) on its B-BBEE codes page. Use the dtic template, which may be placed on the enterprise’s letterhead. The commissioner of oaths cannot be an employee of the enterprise or have an interest in it. The affidavit is valid for 12 months from the date the commissioner signs. Use the dtic template as your example of the format; do not copy another business’s details.
A verification certificate must carry the SANAS accreditation symbol, the scorecard used (Generic or QSE), the status level and procurement recognition level, the score per element, black ownership percentages, issue and expiry dates and the technical signatory’s name. Check the agency’s accreditation status on the SANAS website. SANAS also publishes a list of rating agency withdrawals; a certificate issued before an agency’s withdrawal date stays valid for 12 months (SANAS list, November 2025).
Tax, Licence and Compliance Requirements
There is no separate tax or licence for a B-BBEE certificate. Compliance is driven by who you trade with: entities are measured if they deal with organs of state or other measured entities, directly or indirectly. That is why customers and tenders ask for your certificate.
- Do not split or divide a business just to qualify as an EME or QSE; the Codes say this may be an offence.
- If your sector has its own sector code (for example Construction or ICT), you are measured against that code only.
Verification agencies set their own fees, and no official fee schedule is published. The same goes for what a commissioner of oaths charges. Ask the agency or commissioner for a quote.
Process, Deadlines and Ongoing Obligations
How do I get a BEE certificate?
- EME, CIPC route: a director or member applies on CIPC eServices, BizPortal or a Self-Service Terminal. Details are on the CIPC B-BBEE certification page.
- EME, affidavit route: complete the dtic template and have it commissioned.
- QSE under 51% black owned, or a large enterprise: appoint a SANAS-accredited verification agency. There is no third-party application for the CIPC certificate.
Renewal is a fresh application each time, because every certificate lasts 12 months. An EME may also choose verification by an accredited agency, but only to score points and move to a higher level, using the QSE scorecard.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a BEE certificate?
It is your documented B-BBEE status: a sworn affidavit or CIPC certificate for an EME, or a SANAS-agency verification certificate for larger businesses. It is valid for 12 months.
Is there a BEE certificate registration or application fee?
The CIPC certificate for EMEs is free. Verification agencies and commissioners of oaths set their own prices, and none are published officially, so the BEE certificate price must be confirmed with them.
Can I apply for a BEE certificate for someone else?
No. For the CIPC certificate, only a director or member of the entity may apply.
Where do I find a BEE certificate template?
Download the sworn affidavit templates from the dtic B-BBEE codes page. Qualifying entities must use them.
Does a CIPC BEE certificate count as an affidavit?
Yes. A certificate issued by CIPC has the same status as a B-BBEE sworn affidavit.
Who can issue a verification certificate?
Only a verification professional accredited with SANAS.
Confirm your position with the CIPC, the B-BBEE Commission or a SANAS-accredited verification agency before relying on any figure here. See business and compliance requirements and company registration requirements.