Brics: China’s Donation Comes With Advice to Relax BBBEE and Tender Rules, Suggestion Sparks Fiery Debate

• The China-Africa Development Fund gave SA some eyebrow-raising advice about BBBEE and tenders at the 15 Brics summit
• Chairperson Song Lei claims the changes could facilitate the direct participation of Chinese power companies, potentially enhancing cooperation
• The suggestion has sparked debate, with many South Africans divided on the notion of scrapping BBEE

JOHANNESBURG - The China-Africa Development Fund caused quite a stir by issuing a suggestion about South Africa's Board-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) and tender policies on the sidelines of the 15th Brics summit in Johannesburg.

The fund's chairperson, Song Lei, advised government to ease up on BBBEE rules and streamline tendering to make the process more efficient.

This comes after the Chinese government donated R170 million in emergency power equipment and gifted a grant of approximately R500 million to solve South Africa's energy crisis, TimesLIVE reported.

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China commits to solving SA’s energy crisis

One of the highlights of the Brics Summit is China's commitment to helping SA solve the electricity crisis.

On Wednesday, 23 August, the China Africa Development Fund chairperson signed a memorandum of cooperation with South Africa regarding the energy crisis, but Lei said to do this more speedily, some changes need to be made.

Lei said:

"If you stick to the current bidding and tendering framework, it might be difficult to be very efficient… Also, relaxing BEE policies in transmission and distribution sectors can lead to stringent cooperation."

Lei claimed that the easing of regulations would allow for the direct participation of Chinese power companies through integrated investment and construction and operation models, News24 reported

Chinese fund's advice sparks debate

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Russian president Vladimir Putin's recorded BRICS summit speech steals the spotlight

Below are some comments:

@seamasha66 asked:

"What else did he say about the inequalities?"

@Eleernest suggested:

"How about Mzansi demanding that China lift sanctions against Transnet."

@BhunganeSwazi claimed:

"They will never do such a thing as relaxing tendering, that is where they eat."

@Maso_90 criticised:

"There we go! Now they tell us what we should do?"

Vladimir Putin's Brics address steals the show

In another story, Briefly News reported Vladimir Putin's absence at the Brics summit in Johannesburg was notable, yet a pre-recorded message from the Russian president was projected on large screens to international and local delegates during the opening on Tuesday, 22 August.

Ebrahim Patel, the Minister of Trade and Industry, introduced Putin's message, prompting the audience to erupt in applause.

In his address, Putin spoke openly about the significance of a robust Brics alliance and criticised the sanctions imposed on Russia by Western nations.

Source: Briefly News