If our elders are something to go by, co-operatives are the best way of creating livelihood. Though “ilima” was not meaningful in commercial terms, it provided the perfect way of livelihood, So this is not a new phenomenon to blacks.

“The common thread (enacted in different ways, and subject to the constraints of various systems of national law) is the principle that an enterprise or association should be owned and controlled by the people it serves, who share any surpluses on the basis of each member’s contribution  (as a producer, labour or consumer) rather than their financial capital.

C0operatives are based on and values of self-help, self-responsibility, democracy and equality and solidarity and cooperative principles of:

1. Voluntary and open membership
2. Democratic member control
3. Economic participation by members
4. Autonomy and independence
5. Cooperation among Cooperatives
6. Concern for community

The South African Government’s 10 year review of 2004 differentiates between two economies in South Africa:

“…..the first is an advanced, sophisticated economy based on skilled labor, with the formal sector which is becoming globally competitive. The second economy is mainly informal, marginalized, unskilled, populated by the unemployed and those unemployable in the formal sector. Despite the gains made in the first economy, the benefits of growth have yet to reach the second economy, which has enormous challenge’s arising from the social transition. The second economy risks falling further behind if there is no decisive government intervention”.

After registering a Co-operative, we keep a keen eye on its development and encourage the member’s to use us whenever in need on their way forward. In cases where there is no provision for programs for impact monitoring or where financing Agencies and/or Government are involved, we provide a bridge in terms of communication.

We have identified an area that, among others, lead to collapse of many Co-operatives despite the availability of funding (or because of it )

The unlimited number of members is such that participation in a Co-op is rendered unmanageable. On the other hand, it is desirable that participation in a Co-op should extend to as many members of its communities as possible. But like in “Stockvels”, it works out properly well when the number of members is limited to people who know one another or the likelihood is there for them to know one another, their personalities, skills and businesses acumen. To this end we have adopted a strategy coined “Narrowing to manageable proportions where-in Legal Entities would join as members of the Co-operative. These Entities would then have one or two Directors/ Alternative Directors/ Employees/ Members representing that entity at Co-operative level.

The common understanding of cooperatives among our communities is almost limited to Agricultural Cooperatives, probably due to the good work of the Department of Agriculture and the promotional and financial assistance offered by the department.

It has often been said that the duty of the Government is not to create jobs, but to level of playing fields; but however much the playing fields can be level, the effort will come to nothing if there are no players and coaches.

Other forms of Cooperatives are Retailers, cooperatives, Social cooperatives, Consumer Cooperatives Business and employment Cooperatives, New generation cooperatives, housing cooperatives, Utility cooperatives, and credit cooperatives. In actual fact, the type of cooperative is dictated by the needs of society.