How does the South African ICT sector frame B-BBEE?

Abstract

This paper reports findings on how industry players frame Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) compliance in the South African Information Communication and Technology (ICT) sector. B-BBEE resembles Affirmative Action (AA) policies which have been implemented globally to redress historical inequalities. However, in South Africa, B-BBEE is not a narrow AA policy, but an instrumental domestic economic growth strategy. In the National Integrated ICT policy, B-BBEE is positioned as a driver for sectoral growth and an imperative for operating a business. Despite this reality, B-BBEE compliance has received little attention from Information Systems (IS) researchers. The study used framing both as an analytical tool and a sensitising theory to analyse 65 news articles to see how industry players frame B-BBEE compliance. The findings revealed that industry players framed B-BBEE compliance as ethical, competitive advantage, anti-economic growth, anti-FDI, minority discrimination and a complexity. The study also reveals interesting theory with regards to new public policy acceptance in technology-driven environment.