More than 400 delegates packed in the second session of the 2026 Employment Equity (EE) Workshop in Polokwane on 23 July 2026, the Department of Employment and Labour urged employers to comply with upcoming EE reporting deadlines and highlighted key requirements for obtaining and maintaining EE Compliance Certificates in terms of Section 53 of the Employment Equity Act.

Addressing the fully attended session, the Department's Employment Equity Acting Deputy Director, Ms Christina Lehlokoa, reminded employers to prepare for the 2026 reporting cycle and ensure that all the required documentation is submitted within the prescribed timeframes.

Ms Lehlokoa said employers whose businesses have closed, merged, been liquidated or ceased operation must notify the Department by submitting the relevant EE forms (EEA 14) before the deregistration notification period closes on 31 August 2026. Relevant supporting documentation must accompany the submission to enable the Department to update the employer's status on its Employment Equity system.

The annual EE reporting period opens on 1 September 2026. Employers submitting manual reports must do so by 1 October 2026, while those using the online reporting system have until 15 January 2027 to complete their submissions.

Although the Department continues to accept manual reports, Ms Lehlokoa noted that employers have overwhelmingly adopted the online reporting platform.

"We continue to encourage employers to use the online system because it is easy, effective and user-friendly," said Christina Lehlokoa.

Ms Lehlokoa addressed recurring questions regarding EE Compliance Certificates issued under Section 53 of the Employment Equity Act, emphasising that a compliance certificate remains valid for 12 months from the date of issue, regardless of whether an employer's designation status changes during that period.

She explained that a designated employer that becomes non-designated after obtaining a compliance certificate does not lose the validity of that certificate before its expiry date. Similarly, a non-designated employer that subsequently becomes designated retains its existing certificate until the 12-month validity period expires.

Once the certificate expires, employers are required to log into the Department's online system, declare their current status and apply for a new compliance certificate under the appropriate employer category.

Ms Lehlokoa further reminded employers that compliance certificates must be renewed annually following the submission of Employment Equity reports or the required declaration by non-designated employers.

The next scheduled Employment Equity workshop will be held in Mpumalanga, Mbombela Khayalami Hotel 29 Van Wijk Street (28 July 2026)

For media inquiries, please contact:

Teboho Thejane

Departmental Spokesperson

082 697 0694/ teboho.thejane@labour.gov.za

Website: www.labour.gov.za

-ENDS-

Issued by: Department of Employment and Labour

​ 

​​​