Co-operatives help people to help themselves

There is little appreciation for the importance, significance and potential of the co-operatives model in South Africa, Dr Rob Davies told an audience in Durban over the weekend. Addressing the International Cooperatives Day event, the Minister of Trade & Industry spoke again of additional measures in the pipeline to boost this vehicle (co-operatives) as a way to empower people.

Co-operative support institutions being developed are:

• the Cooperatives Development Agency, to provide financial and non-financial support
• the Cooperatives Academy to provide education and training and
• the Cooperatives Tribunal to help co-operatives to resolve internal conflicts.

Co-operatives made the world of difference to South African commercial agriculture in the previous century. Co-operatives help people to help themselves, and we should welcome every effort to strengthen this business model.

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