The DA is pushing ahead with a bill that could reshape how South Africa handles empowerment in state tenders.

Its proposed Economic Inclusion for All Bill is set for a first reading debate in Parliament. The move does not mean BEE has been scrapped. It means the party’s proposal has entered a formal parliamentary step.

Parliament lists the proposal as the Public Procurement Amendment Bill, B7-2026. It was introduced on 12 March 2026 by DA MP Mat Cuthbert.

What the DA Wants to Change

The DA says the bill would move public procurement away from race-based criteria. It wants preference points to be linked to measurable outcomes.

Those outcomes include job creation, infrastructure investment, skills development and support for small businesses.

The party argues that South Africa still needs redress, but says the current BEE system has not delivered broad inclusion. It claims the policy has benefited a politically connected few. Those claims form the DA’s political case, not a final legal finding.

Parliament’s summary says the bill would repeal provisions linked to set-asides and prequalification criteria for preferential procurement. It would also repeal the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Act, 2003, with consequential amendments.

Why This Matters for South Africans

Public procurement is a massive lever in the economy. The DA says the state’s procurement budget is about R1.2 trillion.

That makes the debate bigger than party politics. It goes to how government spends public money, supports transformation and decides who gets access to state contracts.

The proposal also comes at a sensitive time. The Public Procurement Act was signed into law in 2024, but Treasury said its provisions were not yet in force. The DA is therefore trying to amend a major procurement law before it is fully operational.

What Happens Next

The first reading debate will not settle the future of BEE. It will place the DA’s alternative formally before Parliament.

From there, the bill would still need to move through the usual legislative process. That includes political scrutiny, possible committee stages and the challenge of winning broader support.

For now, the key point is clear: the DA wants to replace BEE-linked procurement rules with what it calls an economic inclusion model. The fight over empowerment and state spending is now heading deeper into Parliament.