B-BBEE Assurance Engagements

B-BBEE Assurance Standard and other resources issued by the IRBA

This page contains a list of resources regarding B-BBEE Assurance Engagements.

Please Note

The IRBA issued a communique on 4 March 2016 to inform B-BBEE approved registered auditors (BARs) of the IRBA Board's decision to withdraw from the regulation of the B-BBEE verification industry on 30 September 2016.

The IRBA issued a communique on 2 August 2016 to inform BARs that, with respect to assurance engagements that have been entered into prior to 30 September 2016, a transitional period of 3 months, to 31 December 2016, will be allowed for the sign off of the verification certificates for these engagements.

The IRBA issued a communique on 24 February 2017 withdrawing SASAE 3502, Revised South African Standard on Assurance Engagement (SASAE) 3502 Assurance Engagements on Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) Verification Certificates, with immediate effect.

The documents provided on this page are for information purposes only.

Title Date issued Effective date Download documents
Revised South African Standard on Assurance Engagement (SASAE) 3502 Assurance Engagements on Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) Verification Certificates June 2016 Effective for B-BBEE Verification Certificates issued on or after 01 June 2016 PDF | Word

Warning to Readers

Registered auditors are alerted to the fact that SASAE 3502 (Revised) has not been updated for the International Standard on Assurance Engagements (ISAE) 3000 (Revised), Assurance Engagements Other Than Audits or Reviews of Historical Financial Information, which is effective for assurance reports dated on or after 15 December 2015, except for the illustrative independent auditor’s reports in Appendices A1 and A2, the illustrative engagement letter in Appendix C and the illustrative management representation letter in Appendix D which have been updated.

South African Standard on Assurance Engagement (SASAE) 3502 Assurance Engagements on Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) Verification Certificates November 2012 Effective for B-BBEE Verification Certificates issued on or after 31 December 2012

PDF | Word

Warning to Readers

Registered auditors are alerted to the fact that SASAE 3502 has not been updated for the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Amendment Act, (No. 46 of 2013) and the amended 2013 Codes of Good Practice.

In addition, registered auditors are alerted to the fact that the SASAE has not been updated for International Standard on Assurance Engagements (ISAE) 3000 (Revised), Assurance Engagements Other Than Audits or Reviews of Historical Financial Information, which is effective for assurance reports dated on or after 15 December 2015. Auditors should ensure that any reports issued are in full compliance with both the Act and Standards.

Letter from the DTI: Update on the Independent Regulatory Board for Auditors' (IRBA) withdrawal from the Regulation of the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) verification industry 26 July 2016   PDF 64KB
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Assurance Engagements on Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) Verification Certificates  April 2014   PDF 158 KB
Letter Regarding Authority for Auditors to issue valid B-BBEE and EME Certificates April 2014   PDF 200 KB 

B-BBEE assurance related communiqués issued by the IRBA

Date of issue Title of communiqué
24 February 2017 Withdrawal of SASAE 3502 (Revised), Assurance Engagements on Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Verification Certificates
05 September 2016 BEE Commission Information Session – Rustenburg
26 August 2016 Procedure for requesting a non-binding advisory opinion
02 August 2016 Update on the Independent Regulatory Board for Auditors' (IRBA) withdrawal from the Regulation of the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) verification industry
14 June 2016 The South African Standard on Assurance Engagements (SASAE) 3502 (Revised), Assurance Engagements on Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Verification Certificates, Including the Registered Auditor’s Limited Assurance Reports
04 March 2016 Update on the IRBA’s continued involvement in the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) Verification Industry
08 July 2015 Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BEEE) Information Session For B-BBEE Approved Registered Auditors 2015
06 July 2015  Application impact of Amended Qualifying Small Enterprise (QSE) scorecard and Exempt Micro Enterprise (EME) requirements on the South African Standard on Assurance Engagements (SASAE) 3502 
29 April 2015  Application impact of Amended 2013 Codes of Good Practice on the South African Standard on Assurance Engagements (SASAE) 3502 
26 January 2015  Clarification on B-BBEE Verification Engagements performed in terms of the 2013 Codes of Good Practice 
23 January 2015  Effect of the proclamation of the B-BBEE Amendment Act into law 
09 April 2014  FAQs on Assurance Engagements on B-BBEE verification Certificates 
13 December 2013  B-BBEE Verification Certificates and Exempted Micro Enterprise Certificates 
06 November 2012  South African Standard on Assurance Engagements 3502, Assurance Engagements on B-BBEE Verification 
30 August 2012 Proposed Future Dates for the National Standardised B-BBEE Management Development Programme 
24 January 2012 Proposed South African Standard on Assurance Engagements 3502: Assurance Engagements on Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) Verification Certificates
21 December 2011 B-BBEE Amendment Bill issued for public comment: Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Amendment Bill 2011 Issued on Exposure by DTI
13 October 2011 Approval for Registered Auditors to provide B-BBEE Verification Assurance Services

Department of Trade and Industry (dti): legislation, Codes, gazettes and the Verification Manual

B-BBEE Approved Registered Auditors (BARs)