Black empowerment in South Africa

Business Daily looks at black economic empowerment in South Africa - the policy of increasing black ownership and representation in business.

But has it worked, or has it driven companies away?

In the 15 years since the ending of apartheid in South Africa, the government has tried to increase the black ownership of businesses.

Under black economic empowerment, or BEE as it is known, companies get an official seal of approval - if they have a large proportion of black employees at all levels, for example, or have black directors or owners.

It matters, because BEE-compliant companies are much more likely to get business from the government.

These laws have seen black people, often politically well-connected, setting up their own companies, to buy chunks of existing businesses - and that has been controversial.

Business Daily looks at both sides of the argument.