Employment Equity Legislation & What This Means for Your Business

ItalCham recently participated in an informative policy briefing on the Employment Equity Amendment Act and the upcoming 2025 Employment Equity Regulations, hosted by

Strata-G Labour Solutions in collaboration with the SAPCC, British Chamber of Commerce, Belgian Chamber of Commerce in South Africa, BusinessNL-SANEC, Nordic-South African Business Association (NSBA), and SwissCham Southern Africa. The session took place at the Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club on Wednesday, 6 August 2025.

The session brought together business leaders, HR professionals, compliance officers, and transformation managers from designated employers to gain clarity on:

• Key legislative changes and their practical implications

• Updated compliance obligations under the new framework

• Actionable strategies for integrating amendments into workplace policies

• The potential impact of the Democratic Alliance’s legal challenge to Section 15A of the Amendment Act

Key Takeaways:

• Businesses that fail to comply may face penalties of R1.5 million or 2–10% of their annual turnover, whichever is greater.

• A valid compliance certificate is now required to secure any government contracts.

• Your B-BBEE rating will now be directly influenced by your employment equity compliance.

• Act now — your 5-year Employment Equity Plan must be finalised by 1 September.

Expert speakers, Jennifer Da Mata (CEO, Strata-g Group), Adv. Tertius Wessels (Managing Director), and Mandilakhe Gcilitshana (Employment Equity Specialist), provided valuable insights into navigating the evolving employment equity landscape, equipping attendees with both the knowledge and tools to meet upcoming compliance requirements.

Itacham extends its appreciation to all participants for their active engagement, and to our speakers for delivering a thought-provoking and solution-oriented discussion.