How to Get a B-BBEE Certificate for Tenders

Your B-BBEE status earns you preference points when the government scores your tender, so it directly affects whether you win. If your business turns over less than R10 million a year (an EME), you don't need an expensive verification — you can use a free sworn affidavit, or get a free B-BBEE certificate from the CIPC. Here's how each route works.

The three routes, by business size

EME (turnover under R10 million): use a free B-BBEE sworn affidavit (a standard template signed before a Commissioner of Oaths) confirming your turnover and black ownership. An EME is automatically at least Level 4; 51%+ black-owned = Level 2; 100% black-owned = Level 1. The CIPC also issues free B-BBEE certificates to EMEs.
QSE (turnover R10m–R50m): if you're 51%+ black-owned you can also use a sworn affidavit; otherwise you need a verified certificate.
Generic (turnover over R50m): you need a verified B-BBEE certificate from a SANAS-accredited verification agency, based on the full scorecard.

How B-BBEE points are scored in tenders

Government uses a preference-points system: 80/20 for tenders up to R50 million and 90/10 for larger ones. Price carries 80 (or 90) points. The remaining 20 (or 10) go to the tender's specific goals, which you claim on SBD 6.1.

Since the Preferential Procurement Regulations, 2022, there is no national table converting a B-BBEE level into a fixed number of points. Each organ of state sets its own specific goals and the points attached to them, and prints them in that tender's document. B-BBEE status is often one of those goals — so your certificate or sworn affidavit is frequently the proof behind the claim — but how many points it earns is decided per tender, not by your level alone.

Getting your free EME affidavit

Download the standard EME (or QSE) B-BBEE affidavit template — the DTIC and most municipalities publish the exact wording.
Fill in your business details, annual turnover, and percentage black ownership.
Sign it in front of a Commissioner of Oaths (free at any police station or many banks).
Submit it with your bid. Renew it every 12 months.

The affidavit proves your status; the tender still asks you to describe the business behind it. That description is the company profile, and it is scored on experience, capacity and compliance rather than on presentation. company profile for tenders →

Get the tenders where your B-BBEE points count

Tell us where you work and we will email you matching government tenders as they open — free, and you can stop any time.

Claiming preference points is not the same as a compliant bid

Understanding the paperwork is step one. Winning the bid is step two — and it's where most businesses lose. The Tender Ready SA toolkit hands you the exact system: the returnable-documents checklist that stops you being disqualified, how to price to win, and the dreaded SBD forms decoded in plain English. For R399, once.

completing a compliant tender document

Frequently asked questions

What B-BBEE level do I need to win tenders?

There is usually no minimum level required to bid. Preference points go to the specific goals each tender sets, and B-BBEE status is often one of them, so a stronger level usually helps — but the points it earns are set in that tender's document, not by a national table. Many small, black-owned businesses qualify as Level 1 or 2 automatically via the EME affidavit.

How do I get a B-BBEE certificate?

If you turn over under R10m, use a free sworn affidavit or a free CIPC B-BBEE certificate. Larger businesses need a verified certificate from a SANAS-accredited verification agency.

Is a B-BBEE affidavit as good as a certificate?

Yes — for EMEs and qualifying QSEs, a properly commissioned sworn affidavit is legally accepted in place of a verification certificate, and it's free.

How long is a B-BBEE certificate or affidavit valid?

Twelve months from the date of issue/signature. Renew it before it expires so you're never disqualified on a technicality.