B-BBEE Certification

Last updated: February 2026

Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment certification measures transformation in South African businesses.

Find Certified Installers All Certifications

B-BBEE (Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment) is a government policy to redress economic inequality. Companies are scored on various elements including ownership, management, skills development, and enterprise development. B-BBEE level is important when tendering for government contracts or supplying to companies with procurement requirements.

What is B-BBEE?

B-BBEE is South Africa's affirmative action economic policy. Companies are scored on a points system and assigned levels from 1 (best) to 8, or non-compliant. A Level 1 contributor has a 135% recognition level for procurement purposes, while Level 4 has 100%. Higher levels mean better scoring in government tenders.

B-BBEE Levels Explained

level	points	recognition
Level 1	100+ points	135%
Level 2	95-100 points	125%
Level 3	90-95 points	110%
Level 4	80-90 points	100%
Level 5	75-80 points	80%
Level 6	70-75 points	60%
Level 7	55-70 points	50%
Level 8	40-55 points	10%

levelLevel 1

points100+ points

recognition135%

levelLevel 2

points95-100 points

recognition125%

levelLevel 3

points90-95 points

recognition110%

levelLevel 4

points80-90 points

recognition100%

levelLevel 5

points75-80 points

recognition80%

levelLevel 6

points70-75 points

recognition60%

levelLevel 7

points55-70 points

recognition50%

levelLevel 8

points40-55 points

recognition10%

Are You a Solar Installer?

Free

Claim your free listing and reach 500K+ monthly visitors looking for solar solutions in South Africa. Advertise separately for premium placement.

Claim Listing Free →Advertise with us See example page →

When B-BBEE Matters

B-BBEE is particularly important for:

Government and public sector tenders
State-owned enterprise procurement
Large corporate supply chain requirements
Mining sector (Mining Charter requirements)
Private sector companies with transformation targets

B-BBEE Verification

How B-BBEE is verified:

SANAS-accredited verification agencies assess companies
Annual verification and certificate issuance
Sworn affidavits for EME/QSE (smaller companies)
Certificates valid for 12 months
Public register of verified companies

CIDB Registration Commercial Installers All Certifications

Get Quotes in Top Metro Areas

Compare claimable and verified installers in South Africa's highest-intent metro markets.

Solar installers in Cape Town, Western Cape Solar installers in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal Solar installers in Johannesburg, Gauteng Solar installers in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape Solar installers in Pretoria, Gauteng

B-BBEE Certification FAQs

For private residential installations, B-BBEE is not a factor. It only matters if you're a business with procurement requirements or government entity subject to B-BBEE regulations.

No, B-BBEE measures transformation, not technical competence. A Level 1 company isn't necessarily better at installing solar than a Level 4 company. Judge quality separately.

Certifications prove an installer has the training, insurance, and experience to safely install your solar system. Uncertified installers can void your equipment warranty, create safety hazards, and leave you without recourse if something goes wrong.

Yes. Most certifying bodies have online databases where you can verify membership. We provide direct links to verification databases on each certification page. Always verify before hiring.

Using an uncertified installer can void your equipment warranties, invalidate your home insurance, make you liable for any accidents or damage, and prevent you from getting a COC which is legally required.

Need More Help?

Browse our complete guides and compare prices across all products.

View All Certifications Buying Guides