Business, CIPC & SARS
How to Get a B-BBEE Affidavit for an EME or QSE
Small businesses often do not need a full, costly B-BBEE certificate. If you qualify as an Exempted Micro Enterprise or a black-owned QSE, a free sworn affidavit signed before a commissioner of oaths may be all you need.
Quick answer
An EME (and a 51% black-owned QSE) can prove B-BBEE status with a free sworn affidavit instead of a paid certificate. You complete the dtic template with your turnover, black-ownership percentage and B-BBEE level, then sign it before an independent commissioner of oaths. As of 2026 an EME is generally under R10 million turnover; confirm thresholds and templates on thedtic.gov.za.
Key points
- An EME and a 51% black-owned QSE can usually use a free sworn affidavit instead of a paid, verified certificate.
- As of 2026, an EME is generally a business with turnover of R10 million or less; confirm on thedtic.gov.za.
- The affidavit must be completed on the official dtic (or relevant sector) template and signed before a commissioner of oaths.
- The commissioner must be independent, not an employee or director of your business.
- An EME can alternatively get a free B-BBEE certificate from CIPC; both routes are no-cost.
- The affidavit is generally valid for 12 months from the signing date; confirm current rules before relying on it.
Step by step
When an affidavit is enough
B-BBEE compliance sounds expensive, but most small businesses do not need a full verification. If you are an Exempted Micro Enterprise (EME), or a Qualifying Small Enterprise (QSE) that is at least 51% black-owned, you can usually prove your B-BBEE status with a free sworn affidavit instead of a paid certificate from an accredited verification agency. This is an independent explainer, not the dtic, the B-BBEE Commission or CIPC, and it is not legal, tax or accounting advice. Confirm everything on thedtic.gov.za before you rely on it.
Do you qualify?
As of 2026, an EME is generally a business with annual turnover of R10 million or less, and a QSE falls between R10 million and R50 million. For a QSE, the affidavit route is generally reserved for businesses that are at least 51% black-owned; other QSEs usually need to be measured against the QSE scorecard and verified. Some B-BBEE sector codes set different turnover limits and use their own affidavit templates, so check the code for your industry rather than assuming the generic one applies.
The template and the details
The sworn affidavit is completed on the official dtic template, which you download at no cost. You will declare the deponent’s name and ID number, their designation, the exact company name as registered with CIPC, the black-ownership percentage, the revenue figure (and whether it comes from audited statements or management accounts), the financial year-end, and the resulting B-BBEE status level. Accuracy matters: if the affidavit is not completed correctly it can be deemed invalid, and a bidder can lose the preference points it was meant to earn.
Signing before a commissioner of oaths
An affidavit is a sworn statement, so it must be signed in front of a commissioner of oaths, generally in person rather than electronically. The commissioner must be independent: they cannot be an employee, director or member of your business, because a person cannot commission a statement in which they have an interest. The deponent’s signing date and the commissioner’s date must match. Commissioners are available free of charge at police stations and at many banks and post offices.
The free CIPC alternative
EMEs have a second no-cost option: CIPC issues a B-BBEE certificate electronically for qualifying micro-enterprises at no charge. Either the dtic affidavit or the CIPC certificate can be used to prove EME status, so there is rarely any reason to pay a large fee to a third party.
| Business type | Typical B-BBEE proof |
|---|---|
| EME (approx. R10m or less) | Free sworn affidavit or free CIPC certificate |
| QSE, 51%+ black-owned | Free sworn affidavit |
| Other QSE / larger business | Verified certificate (scorecard) |
Keeping it valid
An affidavit is generally valid for 12 months from the signing date, so diarise a renewal before it lapses, especially if you bid for tenders. Re-read every field against the specific bid or client requirements, because some contracts impose their own rules on top of the national codes. If in doubt, confirm the current thresholds, templates and validity period on thedtic.gov.za and bbbeecommission.co.za before you submit.
⚠ Stay safe
Be very careful with anyone selling a B-BBEE "certificate" or affidavit for a steep fee. For EMEs and 51% black-owned QSEs the affidavit route is free and the dtic template is a free download; CIPC also issues a free EME certificate. Bogus agents sell fake or inflated certificates that collapse under verification, risking your tenders and even fraud charges. Never buy a certificate that overstates your ownership or level, and only use the official dtic template and an independent commissioner of oaths.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an expensive B-BBEE verification?
What turnover makes me an EME or QSE?
Who can sign my affidavit?
Can I sign it electronically?
How long is the affidavit valid?
Is there a free CIPC certificate option?
CluedUp is an independent guide and is not affiliated with any government agency. Fees, links and steps can change — always confirm on the official portal before you act. This is general information, not legal or financial advice.