The Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) Amendment Bill was expected to be tabled in Parliament in May, said Trade and Industry Minister Dr Rob Davies on Tuesday.

However, a number of tweaks were still required to ensure that BEE would be implemented the way in which it was intended.

Speaking at a media briefing in Pretoria, Davies said the proposed BBBEE amendments, which were published for public comment in December 2011, generated overwhelming support from the public, particularly provisions aimed at eliminating aspects of fronting.

Fronting has been considered one of the most pressing issues for the act. It involves the misrepresentation of a company's BBBEE status. Some challenges included passive investors, or companies naming an individual a senior manager, for example, but not allowing that person to take on the responsibilities of the role.

Further, this practice of fronting disabled the attempts of industry to skill-up and train employees to the benefit of the economy.

The changes to the bill were aimed at ensuring historically disadvantaged individuals would be able to legitimately participate in the economy.

The bill also aimed to align the sector charters or overlapping legislation in the Act to the Codes of Good Conduct.

Davies hoped that the legislative process would be complete by the end of 2012.