Pretoria - The Co-operatives Amendment Bill will lead to the establishment of an agency that will become a one-stop shop for co-operatives, Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies said on Saturday.
"The new bill will result, amongst others, in the establishment of the Co-operatives Development Agency which will become a one-stop shop for both financial and non-financial support tailor-made for co-operatives, including administration of incentives, provision of training and improvement of working conditions in the co-operatives sector," said Davies.
The minister was speaking at the celebrations of International Co-operatives Day hosted by the dti and the Northern Cape Department of Finance, Economic Development and Tourism at the Mittah Seperepere Convention Centre in Kimberly.
Davies said the amendment Bill which the department is taking through the Parliamentary process will go a long way in improving the sustainability of co-operatives and their contribution to the South African economy.
The setting up of a Co-operatives Tribunal and Co-operatives Advisory Council are also provided for in the Bill.
These proposed institutions he said, were aimed at assisting government to reduce the mortality rate among co-operatives and ensure their sustainability.
"These will ensure that co-operatives take their rightful place and contribute effectively to the country's economy as they have the capacity to create jobs and eradicate poverty," he said, while also appealing to the private sector and government to consider procuring goods and services from co-operatives.
Held under the theme "Co-operative Enterprises Build a Better World", International Co-operatives Day celebrations are held annually on the first Saturday of the month of July.
The aim of the International Day of Co-operatives declared by the United Nations in 1995 is to increase awareness on co-operatives, highlight the goals and objectives of the UN and the international co-operative movement. The Day also aims to strengthen and extend partnerships between the international co-operative movement and other actors, including governments, at local, national and international levels.
The Chairperson of the South African Chapter of the United Nations International Year of Co-operatives Coordination Committee, Wellings Maseko appealed to all spheres of government to initiate programmes that are aimed at assisting cooperatives to survive.
"The committee has come with numerous proposals that must be implemented in order to reduce the mortality rate of cooperatives from 80% to 20%. These include providing them with skills development and training, designating more products and services that the government and private sector can only procure from them and working closely with international institutions such as the International Co-operatives Alliance and International Labour Organisation," said Maseko.
The Director of the International Labour Organisation Vic van Vuuren said co-operatives were currently providing employment to over 400 million people worldwide.
Northern Cape MEC for Finance, Economic Development and Tourism John Block expressed appreciation that the event was hosted in the province as it would assist to raise awareness about co-operatives in the Northern Cape.
