The newly-established Department of Small Business Development (DSBD) together with the Limpopo Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (LEDET) and the South African National Apex Cooperative (SANACO) will host the International Cooperatives Day celebrations under the theme Cooperative Enterprises Achieve Sustainable Development for All. The event will take place in Polokwane on Saturday, 5 July 2014.
The Minister of Small Business Development, Ms Lindiwe Zulu says the objective of the International Cooperatives Day celebrations is to increase public awareness about cooperatives and their contributions to socio-economic development of communities in countries all over the world.
According to Zulu, this year's theme seeks to encourage the growth and the establishment of cooperatives all over the world, including encouraging communities, government and individuals to recognise the crucial role cooperatives can play to achieve the Millennium Development Goals as far as job creation and poverty alleviation are concerned.
Zulu adds that the future of cooperatives looks bright with the new Cooperatives Amendment Act 6 of 2013 which seeks to strengthen cooperative governance, accountability and transparency, and to also establish cooperative institutions such as the Cooperatives Development Agency and the Cooperatives Tribunal.
"The establishment of these institutions will assist in streamlining support for cooperatives and ensure alignment across all three spheres of government," states Zulu.
LEDET MEC Mr Seaparo Sekoati says the more than 1 500 cooperatives members from 700 co-operative enterprises who will descend on Polokwane from all over the country to celebrate the International Cooperatives Day will provide a perfect platform for the country to take stock of the road that has been travelled in an effort to put co-operatives in the mainstream of the country’s economy.
"The celebrations will also highlight the positive role cooperatives play in providing a network of opportunities among themselves and between them and members of the public aspiring to be cooperatives. With the support of the Small Enterprise Development Agency (Seda) we are glad that the seventy five co-operatives from Limpopo and other provinces of the country who will be given a chance to exhibit their products and services during the celebrations will prominently showcase on a national platform what the country and in particular the Limpopo province has done to enhance the capacity, competitiveness and sustainability of our cooperatives,"says MEC Sekoati.
SANACO President Mr Lawrence Bale says cooperatives can be a significant catalyst to economic transformation and help South Africans to realise the full benefits of democracy.
"Cooperatives promote a diversified society advancement approach above profits. It is the role of SANACO to ensure that the business models of co-operatives responds effectively to challenges so that social and economic transformation is realised. The South African government encourages cooperatives to get involved in benefitting from the formal economy," adds Bale
The celebrations will be preceded by a round-table session from 3 to 4 July 2014 where in a co-operative charter is expected to be produced and the elective process towards the establishment of a single co-operative Apex body will be discussed.
The International Cooperatives Day is an annual event that is celebrated by cooperatives around the world, to create awareness on the indispensable role cooperatives play in our communities.
Enquiries:
Mr Cornelius Monama
Department of Small Business Development (DSBD)
Cell: 082 578 4063
Tel: 012 394 3027
E-mail: CMonama@dsbd.gov.za
Mr Burkels Napo
Limpopo Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (LEDET)
Cell: 071 474 8900
E-mail: Naposb@ledet.gov.za
Ms Shalate Davhana
South African National Apex Cooperative (SANACO)
Cell: 082 935 4459
E-mail: Shalate@senaka.co.za
