10 January 20265 min read
B-BBEE Affidavit vs Certificate: Which One Do You Need?
EMEs and QSEs can use a free affidavit; larger companies need a full verification certificate. Here’s exactly when each applies.
The Two BEE Compliance Options
South Africa’s B-BBEE framework distinguishes between an affidavit (free, self-declared) and a certificate (paid, verified by a SANAS-accredited agency). Which one you need depends entirely on your turnover.
Exempted Micro Enterprise (EME) — Affidavit
- Annual turnover: R0 – R10 million
- Automatically qualifies as Level 4 (or Level 1/2 for Black-owned)
- No verification needed — just a sworn affidavit
- Cost: Free (just commissioning fee at police station or attorney)
Qualifying Small Enterprise (QSE) — Affidavit or Certificate
- Annual turnover: R10 m – R50 m
- Black-owned QSEs can still use an affidavit
- Non-Black-owned QSEs need a certificate from a SANAS agency
Generic (Large) Enterprise — Full Certificate Required
- Annual turnover: > R50 m
- Full B-BBEE verification against all five scorecard elements
- Certificate valid for 12 months
Get the Right Document, First Time
Consultium Group prepares B-BBEE affidavits from R390 and refers larger companies to trusted SANAS-accredited partners. Send us your latest annual turnover figure and we’ll confirm which document you need.
Need help with this in real life?
Consultium Group handles CIPC, SARS, and B-BBEE compliance end-to-end. Let’s talk.
