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The Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Ms Elizabeth Thabethe encouraged members of co-operatives in South Africa to take advantage of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) on co-operatives that was signed by the BRICS countries in Beijing two weeks ago. Thabethe was speaking at a gala dinner which was hosted by the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) in partnership with the Eastern Cape Department of Economic Development and Environmental Affairs, the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), and the South African National Apex Cooperative (SANACO) in East London last night as part of the International Day of Cooperatives celebrations. More than 500 members of co-operatives from all of the country’s provinces attended the event.
“After South Africa, India, Brazil, Russia and China signed a memorandum of understanding to promote co-operative development amongst BRICS countries, the onus is now on us South Africans to ensure that we reap the benefits of this MOU. This we can do by identifying opportunities for co-operation with our BRICS partners to ensure that we capitalise on this massive opportunity. The MOU marks a significant milestone in co-operative development and will open international markets for the South African co-operatives to do business on the global stage,” said Thabethe.
One of the commitments made in the MOU is the facilitation of bilateral and multilateral cooperation among co-operative enterprises in BRICS countries. The countries also pledged to facilitate trade and investment cooperation between cooperative enterprises in BRICS countries through exhibitions, trade fairs and delegation visits, amongst others.

The CEO of Rural and Urban Livelihoods (RULIV) Professor Makhalelwa Mazibuko, speaking at the dinner on behalf of the Eastern Cape MEC of Economic Development and Environmental Affairs, Mr Mcebisi Jonas, outlined numerous initiatives that the provincial government has put in place to support co-operatives. These include the establishment of a Co-operative Development Institute at the University of Fort Hare and the launch of a co-operative fund which has already assisted thirty co-operatives to the value of about R20m.

“The objective of supporting co-operatives as government is to create an enabling environment for the sustainable growth of the co-operative sector that can contribute directly in creating jobs as well as economic growth,” said Mazibuko.

The Deputy Chairperson of the National Youth Development Agency Mr Yershen Pillay said despite the fact the youth of South Africa constitute the future of the co-operative moment, many of them have very little or no understanding of the co-operative model of enterprise, as well as the opportunities it may hold for improving their own lives and that of the society in general..

“The importance of co-operatives in achieving poverty alleviation, job creation and social integration can never be over-emphasised. To achieve fundamental transformation of our economy we need the requisite vehicles, one of which is co-operative enterprises. Co-operatives must be seen as an alternative and attractive form of enterprise for our young people. They must be seen as a means of job creation, poverty alleviation, social integration and a means to better the life of young people,” said Pillay.

The Deputy President of the South African National Apex Cooperative (SANAC0) Mr Isaiah Masinga appealed to all young people to swell the ranks of the co-operative movement as the majority of South Africans are young people.

“One of the challenges we are facing as SANAC0 is the low level of participation of young people in co-operatives. Something needs to be done about this. The theme for the celebration of this year’s International Day of Co-operatives Youth, The Future of Co-operative Enterprise, could not be more befitting. We need to create more awareness among the youth as co-operatives will go a long way in helping them create employment, fight poverty and contribute to building a better society,” said Masinga.

Celebrations of the International Day of Cooperatives continue at the Jan Smuts Stadium in East London today. The Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Rob Davies will deliver a keynote.