The co-operative movement’s growing membership in Alexandra is hoping to cash in on the city council’s Jozi@Work programme.
The programme has been created to enable small business to access income opportunities.
Violet Mabaso, secretary of the Joburg region of the South African National Apex Co-operative Organisation said 52 co-operatives in Alexandra have been registered and are expecting 30 to 40 more to have registered by the end of December.
Mabaso said co-operatives were the only hope to alleviate poverty, as closed corporations and small private businesses operating in isolation had failed to access business opportunities from either government or other sources.
She said government started the idea of co-operatives in 2008, but only encouraged their formation and accessing of government work recently.
“Most of them [co-operatives] are formed by youths who have failed to get employment, but have good business ideas and are keen to work in a collective environment,” she said. “Others are tired of working in industries and factories where they have no prospect for advancement, but have skills to support their venture out in their areas of specialisation.”
Mabaso added that the organisation would help prepare the co-operatives for contract work from the Jozi@Work programme and other opportunities through training programmes. This will include a course which will be facilitated by Productivity South Africa on business management principles and finance.
Those aspiring to form co-operatives are urged to think through their business idea, be entrepreneurial and commit to working with others.
