Welcome to Level 1

Welcome to the Level 1 Foundation Course on Understanding the Employment Equity Act of South Africa. This self-study guide has been designed to provide you with a comprehensive introduction to one of the most important pieces of labour legislation in South Africa. Whether you are an employer, employee, human resources practitioner, or simply someone seeking to understand employment equity, this course will establish the foundational knowledge you need.

The Employment Equity Act, 1998 (Act No. 55 of 1998), as amended, is the cornerstone of South Africa’s legislative framework for achieving equity in the workplace. It was enacted to give effect to the constitutional right of equality and to eliminate unfair discrimination in employment. This Act represents a critical component of South Africa’s transformation agenda, aimed at redressing the historical imbalances created by apartheid and other discriminatory laws and practices.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this Level 1 course, you will be able to:

• Explain the historical context and constitutional foundation of the Employment Equity Act.
• Correctly identify and describe the designated groups as defined in the Act.
• Understand who qualifies as a designated employer and their obligations.
• Describe the structure and key provisions of the EE Act chapter by chapter.
• Identify and explain the purpose of each EE form (EEA1 to EEA17).
• Know where to access and download official EE forms and resources.
• Understand the prohibited grounds of unfair discrimination.
• Recognise recent changes to the Act and their implications.

How to Use This Guide

This self-study guide is structured into ten modules, each building upon the previous one. Read each module carefully, take notes where needed, and complete the self-assessment questions at the end of this guide. The guide includes references to specific sections of the Employment Equity Act and other relevant legislation. These citations are provided so you can verify the information and deepen your understanding.

Important Note: The information in this guide is based on the Employment Equity Act, 1998 (Act No. 55 of 1998), as amended by the Employment Equity Amendment Act, 2013 (Act No. 47 of 2013), the Employment Equity Amendment Act, 2022 (Act No. 4 of 2022), and the Employment Equity Regulations, 2025, published on 15 April 2025. Always ensure you are referencing the most current version of the legislation.

Legal Framework Reference

The following legal instruments form the foundation of this course:

• Employment Equity Act, 1998 (Act No. 55 of 1998) – the principal legislation

• Employment Equity Amendment Act, 2013 (Act No. 47 of 2013)

• Employment Equity Amendment Act, 2022 (Act No. 4 of 2022)

• Employment Equity Regulations, 2025 (Government Gazette No. 52515, 15 April 2025)

• Sectoral Numerical Targets (Government Gazette No. 52514, 15 April 2025)

• Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 (Act No. 108 of 1996)

• Labour Relations Act, 1995 (Act No. 66 of 1995)

• Basic Conditions of Employment Act, 1997 (Act No. 75 of 1997)