Key takeaways
Fill, sign, and submit ZA Sworn Affidavit 1 from any browser — or have AI generate a custom version in seconds. No installs, no printing, no back-and-forth.
- The South Africa B-BBEE Affidavit (B-BBEE Exempted Micro Enterprise (EME) Affidavit) declares an entity's B-BBEE status based on turnover and ownership.
- Exempted Micro Enterprises with turnover under R10 million and certain black-owned Qualifying Small Enterprises use this form for B-BBEE recognition.
- A Director or Member must sign the document in the presence of a Commissioner of Oaths to verify its authenticity.
- The affidavit requires details on the entity's annual turnover, level of black ownership, and specific B-BBEE recognition criteria.
- Each completed affidavit remains valid for 12 months from the date of issue for presentation to clients or government entities.
- Providing false information on this sworn declaration can result in fines, imprisonment, or being barred from government business for ten years.
- You can use pdfFiller to fill out, sign, and share this affidavit securely with relevant third parties for compliance purposes.
What is ZA Sworn Affidavit 1?
South Africa B-BBEE Affidavit (B-BBEE Exempted Micro Enterprise (EME) Affidavit) is a legal document used by specific entities in South Africa to declare their Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment status. It allows Exempted Micro Enterprises, certain Qualifying Small Enterprises, and Start-Up Enterprises to affirm their B-BBEE level based on annual turnover and ownership. By using this affidavit, these businesses can provide proof of their status for tenders and contracts without undergoing a costly and time-consuming full verification process by an accredited agency.
The document captures critical information including the entity's total annual revenue and the specific percentage of black ownership. As a vital bbbee compliance form, it requires a formal declaration from a director or member of the enterprise, confirming that the financial and ownership details are accurate. Once signed and attested before a Commissioner of Oaths, the affidavit serves as a valid instrument for claiming recognition levels under the B-BBEE Codes of Good Practice and the governing national legislation.
Issued by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic).
Who needs the ZA Sworn Affidavit 1 — and who doesn't
Not everyone files ZA Sworn Affidavit 1. The checklist below tells you whether it applies to your situation — and points you to the right alternative if it doesn't.
You need this ZA Sworn Affidavit 1 if…
- you represent an Exempted Micro Enterprise with an annual turnover of less than R10 million and must have your status declaration sworn and signed before a Commissioner of Oaths.
- your Qualifying Small Enterprise has an annual turnover between R10 million and R50 million and is at least 51% black-owned.
- you are a director or member of a Start-Up Enterprise in its first year of operation and require a signed declaration to be treated as an Exempted Micro Enterprise.
- you need to provide proof of B-BBEE recognition for tenders or contracts and can have your signature as a director or member attested to by a Commissioner of Oaths.
You do not need this ZA Sworn Affidavit 1 if…
- your business is a Generic Enterprise with an annual turnover exceeding R50 million, which requires a full B-BBEE verification certificate from an accredited agency.
- you represent a Qualifying Small Enterprise that is less than 51% black-owned, as this specific affidavit format is restricted to those with higher black ownership levels.
Why you need the ZA Sworn Affidavit 1
Why people fill out ZA Sworn Affidavit 1, and what tends to go wrong when they don't.
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Secure Business Tenders Completing the B-BBEE Exempted Micro Enterprise (EME) Affidavit allows eligible businesses to claim empowerment recognition. This status is necessary for participating in government tenders and securing contracts with large-scale enterprises.
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Cost-Effective Verification This form allows small businesses to declare their annual turnover and ownership without undergoing expensive audits. It provides a simple, sworn alternative for entities earning less than R50 million annually.
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Sworn Legal Declaration This document serves as a formal affidavit signed by a director and attested by a Commissioner of Oaths. It provides a legally recognized declaration of an entity's B-BBEE status for twelve months.
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Streamline Document Workflows Use pdfFiller to fill, sign, and manage your affidavit in a single online platform. It allows you to add legally binding e-signatures and share the finished PDF with partners via link or email.
What each section of ZA Sworn Affidavit 1 means
Every section explained — what it's asking, the records you'll need on hand, and the mistakes that most often cause a rejection or follow-up request.
| Enterprise Identification | Provide the official name and identifying details of the business entity to clarify which enterprise is making the B-BBEE status declaration. |
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| Annual Turnover Declaration | State the entity's annual turnover to confirm it falls within the limits for an Exempted Micro Enterprise or a Qualifying Small Enterprise. |
| Black Ownership Level | Declare the percentage of the business that is black-owned to establish the entity's B-BBEE recognition level according to the Codes of Good Practice. |
| Deponent Signature | The director or member of the enterprise signs to swear that the turnover and ownership information provided in the document is accurate. |
| Commissioner of Oaths Attestation | This section is completed by a Commissioner of Oaths who verifies the deponent's identity and witnesses the signing of the affidavit. |
How to fill out ZA Sworn Affidavit 1 using pdfFiller
A walkthrough from the first field to the signature line. With your records in front of you, most people finish in under ten minutes.
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Open the Document Click Get Form to open South Africa B-BBEE Affidavit in the pdfFiller editor to start modifying the document directly in your web browser without downloading any software.
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Enter Enterprise Information Use the text tool to click on the designated areas and type in the required identification details for your business as prompted by the document template.
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Provide Entity Turnover Declaration Locate the sections for financial and ownership data, then enter the relevant figures and percentages to confirm your enterprise's B-BBEE status and recognition level.
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Complete Director Member Affidavit Navigate through the document to populate the deponent’s statement fields, ensuring all declarations regarding the entity's annual turnover and ownership are accurately recorded.
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Sign the Document Click the signature field to add your legally binding e-signature as a Director or Member using the secure signing tools provided within the pdfFiller editor.
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Review and Save Carefully check all entered information for accuracy, then click the 'Done' button to save the completed PDF to your secure encrypted storage within the platform.
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Share for Attestation Export the final affidavit or share it via a secure link with a Commissioner of Oaths to complete the required attestation and signing process.
Deadlines, key dates & penalties for ZA Sworn Affidavit 1
When ZA Sworn Affidavit 1 is due, what late filing actually costs, and how to request more time if you need it.
| Document Validity | A B-BBEE EME Affidavit is typically valid for 12 months from the date it is signed by the director or member and attested to by a Commissioner of Oaths. Although there is no central government filing deadline, the affidavit must be valid at the time it is presented to third parties, such as clients or government entities, for B-BBEE compliance purposes. |
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| Penalties for Misrepresentation | Misrepresenting an entity's B-BBEE status is a criminal offense under Section 13O of the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Act, 53 of 2003. Violations may result in heavy fines, imprisonment for a period of up to 10 years, and being barred from participating in business with the government or its entities for up to 10 years. |
Recent changes to ZA Sworn Affidavit 1
The B-BBEE Exempted Micro Enterprise (EME) Affidavit template provided by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) carries a revision date of 25 July 2016. While this specific version serves as the standard for enterprises to declare their Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) status, the underlying B-BBEE Act and the B-BBEE Codes of Good Practice are subject to periodic amendment by the dtic to reflect regulatory updates.
For the document to be legally valid, it must be signed by an authorized Director or Member of the enterprise in the presence of a Commissioner of Oaths. This attestation process ensures the declaration of ownership and annual turnover is sworn and verified. Once the affidavit is signed and notarized, it remains valid for 12 months from the date of issue, after which a new declaration must be completed to maintain B-BBEE compliance.
Pointer: Verify that your Commissioner of Oaths provides a clear stamp and signature, as the affidavit is only valid for 12 months from the date it is sworn.
Key terms used in ZA Sworn Affidavit 1
A one-sentence glossary of the ZA Sworn Affidavit 1 terms and concepts you'll see throughout this guide.
- Exempted Micro Enterprise (EME)
- An entity with an annual total turnover of R10 million or less, qualifying for simplified B-BBEE compliance.
- Qualifying Small Enterprise (QSE)
- An entity with turnover between R10 million and R50 million that is at least 51% or 100% black-owned.
- Start-Up Enterprise
- A business in its first year of operation, which is treated as an EME regardless of its expected turnover.
- Commissioner of Oaths
- An authorized official who witnesses the signing of the affidavit and verifies the identity of the person making the declaration.
- Deponent
- A Director or Member of the enterprise who signs the affidavit under oath to confirm the accuracy of the information provided.
Frequently asked questions about ZA Sworn Affidavit 1
Quick answers to the questions we hear most often about completing the ZA Sworn Affidavit 1.
The South Africa B-BBEE Affidavit (B-BBEE Exempted Micro Enterprise (EME) Affidavit) is a sworn declaration used by small businesses to confirm their Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment status based on turnover and ownership. This document allows entities to claim B-BBEE recognition for tenders and contracts without a full verification certificate. You can fill, sign, and share this document using pdfFiller’s online document management platform.
Exempted Micro Enterprises (EMEs) with an annual turnover under R10 million and certain Qualifying Small Enterprises (QSEs) with at least 51% black ownership are eligible to use this affidavit. Start-Up Enterprises in their first year of operation also qualify to use this declaration. Larger generic enterprises with turnover exceeding R50 million are excluded and must undergo a full verification by an accredited agency.
A B-BBEE Affidavit is typically valid for 12 months from the date of issue and attestation. While there is no central filing deadline, the affidavit must be presented to third parties like clients or government entities to prove current B-BBEE compliance. Users can store and manage their completed affidavits in pdfFiller’s secure cloud storage for easy access during this period.
Yes, the affidavit must be signed by a Director or Member of the enterprise and then receive a commissioner of oaths signature to be legally valid. The commissioner must verify the identity of the deponent and confirm the document was sworn in their presence. This ensures the declaration meets the legal requirements set by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition.
Misrepresenting B-BBEE status on this ZA legal document is a criminal offense that can result in fines, imprisonment for up to 10 years, and debarment from government business. These penalties are enforced under the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Act. To ensure accuracy and compliance, businesses often use pdfFiller to fill out the form correctly before having it officially attested.
Yes, Start-Up Enterprises are treated as EMEs during their first year of operation and can use this affidavit to declare their status. This allows new businesses to participate in procurement processes and contracts immediately upon starting operations. pdfFiller provides the necessary tools to fill, eSign, and download the finished PDF for submission to potential business partners.
