When speaking to the media after this session where concerns were raised about recent calls by the ANC to review BEE, the Minster said that there was no need to change South Africa's Broad-based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) policy.

"We don't think we are at a stage of changing, we should rather focus on implementation," Mpahlwa told the meeting in Pretoria.

The minister stressed that BBBEE was important to government and that it could not be allowed to be "relegated in order of priority".

Addressing the meeting, Andile Tlhoaele ABVA Chairperson supported comments made by the Minister. "ABVA would not support any move to remove the employment equity or skills development categories from the empowerment scorecard at this time. ABVA believes it is too soon to be making any changes to the process, and time must be given to focus on implementation" said Tlhoaele.

According to the DTI, since the gazetting of the Codes of Good Practice in February 2007, considerable progress has been made in the implementation of BBBEE. The period post 31 August 2008 effectively marked the unconditional application of the Codes throughout the economy.

Tlhoaele is happy to further discuss ABVA's position on the BEE Review, Accreditation and the implementation of the Codes.

For more information on ABVA, please visit the ABVA web-site, www.abva.co.za