Supplier diversity around the world · South Africa
Supplier Diversity in South Africa
South Africa pairs a statutory framework with third-party certification. B-BBEE (Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment) shapes corporate procurement scorecards, and the South African Supplier Diversity Council certifies majority black-owned businesses and connects them to its corporate members' supply chains.
By Mario Bailey, Editor-in-Chief · Reviewed against official South African sources · Last verified July 2026
Quick answer
Supplier diversity in South Africa runs on its own certifications, not US ones. SASDC certifies black-owned businesses. Certification requires at least 51% ownership by the diverse group, and corporate supplier diversity programs operating in South Africa recognize these certificates.
Certifying bodies in South Africa
Each body certifies a different ownership category and runs its own application, documentation review, and site assessment. Start with the one that matches your ownership.
SASDC
black-owned businesses
The South African Supplier Diversity Council certifies businesses at least 51% black-owned, controlled, and managed, with the majority owners South African citizens and a black person in the highest titled position. Established with USAID support under a strategic partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry.
Official site ↗How certification works
The shape is the same across certifying bodies: prove at least 51% ownership by the diverse group with corporate documents, financials, and owner identification; complete the review, which for most bodies also tests management and control and may include a site assessment. SASDC certification fees vary; check the current schedule on sasdc.org.za before applying.
Government procurement
B-BBEE is South Africa's statutory empowerment framework: corporate buyers earn preferential-procurement recognition on their B-BBEE scorecards for spend with majority black-owned suppliers, which is the main driver of demand for SASDC-certified businesses. SASDC certification itself is a corporate credential, not a government scorecard.
Selling into US and global corporate supply chains
SASDC is South Africa's member of the Global Supplier Diversity Alliance, the network that also includes NMSDC (US), CAMSC (Canada), MSDUK (UK), and Supply Nation (Australia), so certified suppliers plug into the same corporate ecosystem multinationals use across markets.
WEConnect International
Certifies businesses at least 51% owned, managed, and controlled by women in over 100 countries, and connects them to member buyers running global supplier diversity programs.
WEConnect International ↗Get found by buyers with global programs
US and multinational buyers use our directory to source certified diverse suppliers. List your certified South African business so their programs can find you.
Join the supplier directory → · How buyers source suppliers →Frequently asked questions
Who qualifies for SASDC certification?
Businesses at least 51% black-owned, controlled, and managed, headquartered in South Africa, with the majority owners South African citizens and a black person holding the highest titled position. SASDC verifies credentials through its own due-diligence methodology before certifying.
How does SASDC certification relate to B-BBEE?
B-BBEE is the statutory framework; SASDC certification is a corporate credential that helps member buyers direct preferential-procurement spend to verified black-owned suppliers. Certification complements a B-BBEE scorecard rating rather than replacing it.
Who recognizes SASDC certification?
SASDC's corporate members buying in South Africa, and the certification connects into the Global Supplier Diversity Alliance network that multinational supplier diversity programs use across countries.
Other markets
Doing business in the United States?
US certifications (8(a), MBE, WBE, and the rest) have their own eligibility rules and issuing bodies. Our US guide compares every one.
The US certification guide →