PUBLIC STATEMENT OF IMPARTIALITY

Impartiality lies at the heart of BEECSA’s commitment to Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment and concomitant verifications.

BEECSA bases its Impartiality policy on the underlying values of objectivity, independence, freedom from conflict of interest, freedom from bias, lack of prejudice, neutrality, fairness, open-mindedness, even-handedness, detachment and balance.

To ensure that impartiality is both maintained and can be demonstrated, the following principles have been established:

  • BEECSA Certificates are only issued after review by an independent authorised and competent verification manager to ensure that no interest predominates.
  • BEECSA does not have any relationships with companies that offer consultancy related to B-BBEE or other services that can be construed as having an impact on the B-BBEE verification provided by BEECSA. Any proposed relationship between BEECSA and any other company will undergo a risk assessment by an independent risk assessor prior to the formalisation of the relationship.
  • Individuals employed by BEECSA are required to document their current relationship and past relationships with all companies, specifically if they have provided consultancy in the past two years. Any situation past or present which may present a potential conflict of interest is required to be declared by employees on the declaration form to be completed. Should there be a conflict of interest and it can be resolved without compromising objectivity, BEECSA shall not provide the verification.
  • All employees will be monitored bi-annually to ensure, amongst other criteria, that they remain impartial.
  • BEECSA shall provide accurate and non-misleading information to the public.
  • We undertake not to allow any consultancy body from stating or implying that the ratings service provided by BEECSA is simpler, faster or less expensive than any of its competitors nor will we state or imply that, if a particular consultancy is used, a B-BBEE verification would be simpler, faster or less expensive.
  • BEECSA will not provide both B-BBEE verification and B-BBEE consultancy services to the same measured entity, unless a period of four years has elapsed following the end of such a B-BBEE consultancy.