The North West Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Economic Development, Conservation, Environment and Tourism will be conducting public hearings on the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Amendment Bill 2012 and the North West Consumer Affairs (Unfair Business Practices) Amendment Bill.

The public hearings will be held at Christiana Town Hall, Bafokeng Auditorium in Phokeng, Blydeville Community Hall in Lichtenburg and Tigane Community Hall on Friday, 30 August 2013. All public hearings commence at 10h00.

The Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Amendment Bill aims to amend the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Act, 2003, so as to insert certain definitions and to amend others; clarify interpretation and provide for the remuneration of Council members.

It seeks to promote compliance by organs of state and public entities and strengthen the evaluation and monitoring of compliance. It will also include the creation of incentive schemes to support black owned and managed enterprises in the strategy for broad-based black economic empowerment.

The bill will provide for the cancellation of a contract or authorization; establish the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Commission that deals with compliance of broad-based black economic empowerment; provide for offences and penalties; and for matters connected therewith.

The North West Consumer Affairs (Unfair Business Practices) Amendment Bill aims to provide the establishment of the Office for the Investigation of Harmful Business Practices and the Consumer Affairs Court.

There are some errors in the Act that creates legal defects and inhibits the full application of the Act in general and in particular the operation of the Consumer Affairs Court. Members of the media are invited to attend the public hearings.