LIMPOPO SERIOUS ABOUT DEVELOPMENT OF CO-OPERATIVES - SENIOR OFFICIA

LIMPOPO SERIOUS ABOUT DEVELOPMENT OF CO-OPERATIVES - SENIOR OFFICIAL 

By BRIAN KAJENGO

The Limpopo government has identified co-operatives as one of the key tools to address the triple challenges of poverty, inequality and unemployment in the province. To this end, the government will procure 10% of its goods and services from co-operatives. 

The Acting General Manager of Enterprise Development in the Limpopo Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (LEDET) department Dr. Jaco Mostert said this.

 He was addressing members of co-operatives across South Africa who gathered in Polokwane for a three-day programme of activities that will culminate in the International Cooperatives Day celebrations on Saturday.

The newly-established Department of Small Business Development (DSBD) in partnership with the South African National Apex Co-operative (SANACO) and LEDET hosts the event.

“In South Africa we are facing the triple challenges of inequality, unemployment and poverty that require decisive interventions. As the Limpopo provincial government, we see co-operatives as the key tool to address these triple challenges in the province. .We has taken the decision that 10% of all government procurement in Limpopo will go to co-operatives,” said Mostert to a loud cheer from the large group of members of cooperatives who attended the event.

 Mostert added that as part of this process his department was in the process of identifying and evaluating all opportunities that are available in the provincial government to enable cooperatives to supply government with goods and services. 

“We are analysing the challenges that cooperatives face that can prevent them from providing government with their products and services. We are working in partnership with various agencies such as the Small Enterprise Development Agency (Seda), Small Enterprise Finance Agency (Sefa) and our own Limpopo Economic Development Agency (Leda) to address these challenges so that we can achieve this goal of 10% procurement from cooperatives,” explained Mostert.

He identified government supply chain procedures as one of the possible regulatory inhibitions that the Limpopo government was discussing with National Treasury to eradicate blockages and hurdles.

The conference, which is part of the celebrations of the International Cooperative Day, proceeds tomorrow morning with various commissions reporting in a plenary on issues affecting the growth of co-operatives in South Africa.  The Minister of Small Business Development, Ms Lindiwe Zulu, the MEC of LEDET, Mr Seaparo Sekoati and the President of SANACO, Mr Lawrence Bale expected to join proceedings on Friday.