The long-awaited Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) Advisory Council could be launched soon after the new government took office next month, an official said on Friday.

Lillian Mofokeng, the chief director at the Department of Trade and Industry (dti), said the launch had been stalled by the imminent changes in political administration.

The delay in establishing the council had irked some BEE observers. Last week, Cope's Onkgopotse Tabane lashed out at the dti for not "being inspired enough" to insist on the proper implementation of BEE.

"The dti has failed to install this council, which, according to the BEE Act, has to monitor the implementation of BEE. It has been a few years since we were told that the advisory council will come into being, but nothing has been forthcoming," Tabane said on 702 Talk Radio.

A source who refused to be named said the recall of former president Thabo Mbeki had derailed the launch.

"Since then, nobody has been able to make a decision about when to launch," the source said. "The current president (Kgalema Motlanthe) has not had time to look at this. I am sure everything will be finalised after the elections."