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CO-OPERATIVES AMENDMENT ACT, NO.6 OF 2013 – MECHANISM GEARED TO ENHANCE SUSTAINABILITY OF CO-OPS PRESENTATION BY JEFFREY NDUMO AT THE COLLOQUIUM , JOHANNESBURG UNIVERSITY, 04 AUGUST 2013. Background Information.

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  1. CO-OPERATIVES AMENDMENT ACT, NO.6 OF 2013 – MECHANISM GEARED TO ENHANCE SUSTAINABILITY OF CO-OPS PRESENTATION BY JEFFREY NDUMO AT THE COLLOQUIUM , JOHANNESBURG UNIVERSITY, 04 AUGUST 2013

  2. Background Information • Cooperatives development in South Africa has come a long way since Cabinet transferred the mandate of developing cooperatives from DoA to the dti: A number of policy and legislative support instruments have been developed aimed at promoting the development of cooperatives: • During 2004, the Co-operatives Policy that formed the basis for the development of the amended Cooperatives Act was finalized and approved; • The Cooperatives Act, No.14 of 2005 was promulgated into law on the 14 August 2005, repealing the 1981 Cooperatives Act. • The Cooperatives Regulations that ensured the proclamation of the Cooperatives Act on the 02 May 2007, were finalized, allowing for the effective implementation of the 2005 Act. • The National Cooperatives Development Strategy, a major policy instrument was finalized and approved by Cabinet in 2012. • Co-operatives Amendment Act No 6 of 2013 was assented to by the President on 2 August 2013 and published in the Government Gazette No. 36729 on 5 August 2013.

  3. Background Information, cont… • Prior to the 1994 democratic transition, most successful co-operatives were in the agricultural sector and finance, during which the responsibility for co-op development vested in the DoA; • Modernisation of the sector led to the drafting of the Co-ops Act 14 of 2005, which is now amendment to Co-ops Act, 06, 2013: • The aim of this talk is to answer the following questions: • Why was the amendment needed, and what does it try to achieve? • Is the amendment likely to achieve the desired outcome?

  4. Current Situation • The number of registered Co-operatives as on 31 March 2013 stands at 74 387; • The number of co-operatives that submits financial information and information on membership:156 cooperatives, which constitute 0.2%of the total number of registered co-operatives; • Total income for the 156 co-operatives that submitted information: R 8 783 765 852, which constitute an average of R 56 306 191 per co-operative; that submitted information; • The GDP contribution of the co-ops that submitted information is 0.3% and the agriculture co-ops contribute 10% in the agricultural sector;

  5. Current Situation, cont… • The total number of members for the 156(that submitted information) co-operatives: 217 711, which constitute an average of 1 396 members per co-operative that submitted information; • Almost 81% of cooperatives are 3 years old or younger and most of these are still to fully comply with the Act requirement, namely, to submit the information to CIPC to aid in providing an accurate picture of co-ops performance; • The mortality rate of the co-ops submitting information is a mere 5% and those that do not is as high as 80%; and • Over 50% of cooperatives are in rural areas (villages and farms) and 65% of the coops are situated in provinces with above average poverty;

  6. Challenges facing co-ops • Paucity of co-operatives financial information to paint an accurate picture, which can also aid development of policy instruments for the co-operative movement; • Few co-operatives comply with the Act in terms of submitting information to CIPC; • Impact of late payment on co-operatives from both public and private sector; • Limited financial support from banks due to the democratic nature of ownership • within co-operatives; and • Inadequate public sector financial support programmes, which are also integrated and streamlined throughout the economy; • Lack of mentorship programmes to support survival small and micro co-ops; • Inadequate business technical and management skills amongst co-ops; • Lack of capacity building support for co-ops and inadequate business incubation programmes;

  7. Challenges facing co-ops, cont.. • Inadequate technology transfer and business infrastructure on co-ops; • High levels of conflict amongst co-ops thus contributing to high failure rate; and • Lack of quick and affordable legal remedy to resolve conflict and provide compliance enforcement of the law, as well as, rescue support to dying co-ops; • Most micro and small co-ops and in particular the agricultural co-ops lacks capacity and ability to access market for their produce, which contributes to high failure rate; • Lack of accessto public sector procurement and linkage to the private sector value chains; • Lack of market information, intelligence and integrated market access support programmes aimed at aiding co-operatives in this respect; • Improving the local business environment and encouraging business diversification amongst co-operatives to have a complete co-ops value chain.

  8. Main aims of the Amendment Act Strengthen co-operative governance, accountability and transparency and provide for a differential dispensation for co-operatives to reduce the regulatory burden for co-operatives Strengthen the co-operative structure to allow for organic growth informed by own needs and requirements and to enable unity Enhance Compliance, Coordination, Administration and Sustainability of Co-operatives Establish co-operative institutions in order to streamline support for co-operatives and ensure alignment across all 3 spheres of govt.

  9. Main aims of the Amendment Act, cont… • To increase the survival rate of registered co-operatives • To increase the proportion of co-operatives with formal legal status, which can receive govt financial and non-financial support • To improve the quality of information on the co-operative sector available to the dti

  10. Purpose of the Act

  11. Compliance with co-operative principles

  12. Compliance with legislative requirements

  13. Compliance with co-operative principles of good governance

  14. Co-operative structure

  15. Primary co-operative: definition

  16. Categories of primary co-operatives

  17. Secondary co-operative: definition & application to register

  18. ’Operational’ in relation to Co-operative

  19. Tertiary co-operative: definition & register

  20. National Apex Co-operative

  21. National Apex Co-operative

  22. National Apex Co-operative

  23. Functions of the national apex co-operative

  24. Registration of Co-operatives

  25. Area amended: Co-operative Governance Challenge: High failure rate and enhance clarity on the corporate identity of co-operatives • Co-operative values now in body of Bill, i.e. (i) Voluntary and Open Membership; (ii) Democratic Member Control; (iii) Member Economic Participation (iv); Autonomy and Independence; (v) Education, Training and Information; (vi) Co-operation amongst Co-operatives; (vii) Concern for the Community Page 3, Line 54 & Line 43 • Co-operatives are compelled to comply with the co-operative principles Page 7, Lines 21 and 22 • Code of Good Governance for co-operatives Page 7, Lines 56 and 57

  26. Area amended: Co-operative Governance – Reporting Framework for co-operatives Challenge: Lack of accountability by directors and management as well as transparency with members • Co-operative reporting framework for co-operatives that requires, in addition to annual financial statements, the submission of social and management decision reports Page 18, Lines 21 to 23

  27. Area amended: Co-operative Governance – Social and Management Decision Reports Challenge: High failure rate and lack of clarity on the corporate identity of co-operatives and transparency • Social report - means an assessment report drafted by the Board that asses the social impact and ethical performance of the co-operative in relation to its stated vision, mission, goals and code of social responsibility of the co-operative as set out in its constitution Page 5, Lines 60 to 63 • Management decision report – means an assessment report drafted by the Board that accompanies the financial statements and that assesses the a co-operative’s compliance with all legal requirements and the requirements contained in its own constitution Page 5, Lines 31 to 34

  28. Area amended: Categorisation of primary Co-operatives Challenge: High cost of compliance for smaller co-operatives • Primary co-operatives categorised as follows: • Category A: Survivalist to small co-operatives • Category B: Small to medium co-operatives • Category C: Medium to large co-operatives Page 12, Lines 11 to 16

  29. Area amended: Differential Dispensation with regard to auditing and accounting activities • Category C primary co-operatives, secondary, tertiary and the national apex co-operative must submit an audited report to the registrar for each financial year; Page 18, Lines 9 to 14 • Category B primary co-operatives must produce an independent reviewed report to the registrar in respect of each financial year; Page 18, Lines 15 and 16 • Category A primary co-operatives must produce an annual report which does not have to be audited or independently reviewed to the registrar for each financial year and the survivalist will be exempted Page 18, Lines 17 to 20 Challenge: High cost of compliance for smaller co-operatives

  30. Area amended: Reserve Fund • A percentage of surplus must be set aside as an indivisible reserve; Page 7, Lines 27 to 30 • Members to decide and stipulate the limits to be kept as reserve in the constitution of their co-operatives but not less than 1% and need not be more than 5% of the net asset value reflected in the most recent financial statements submitted to Registrar; Page 17, Lines 40 to 44 • Minister will provide guidelines for records in respect of reserves; purposes for which reserves may be used; and manner in which co-operatives must report on reserves Page 17, Lines 50 to 54 Challenge: No clear guidelines on purpose, reporting and use of reserve fund

  31. Area amended: Voting rights Challenge: Co-operatives formed in terms of Co-operatives Legislation prior to Act 14 of 2005 allowed to structure voting rights proportionally. • Constitutions of Category C Primary, Secondary, Tertiary and National Apex Co-operatives may provide that members may have more than one vote but subject to certain limits (not more than 17%); and Page 7, Lines 32 to 49 • Co-operatives registered prior to 2013 may retain their voting rights as per their constitutions. Page 7, Lines 50 to 55

  32. Area amended: Constitution of Co-operatives Challenge: Democratic control of co-operatives compromised All co-operatives (primary, secondary, tertiary and national apex) must have constitutions;Page 10, Lines 25 and 26 Every group of individuals or co-operatives that intends to register as a co-operative must submit its constitution and the prescribed forms in the prescribed format to the registrar for registration.Page 10, Lines 35 to 37

  33. Area amended: Constitution of Co-operatives – Minimum requirements Challenge: Democratic control of co-operatives compromised • Constitution of co-operative must provide for: • a reasonable term of office for directors;Page 11, Lines 5 and 6 • whether directors may be reappointed for a consecutive term;Page 11, Line 7 • the manner of rotation of directors; andPage 11, Line 8 • may provide for the appointment of non-executive independent directorsPage 8, Line 18

  34. Area amended: Constitution of Co-operatives – Minimum requirements, continues… Challenge: Democratic control of co-operatives compromised • Constitution of co-operative must provide for: • a provision relating to the extension of the period for the repayment of the nominal value of membership shares in the event of the death of a member of the co-operative to a maximum of two years;Page 11, Lines 12 to 15

  35. Area amended: Constitution of Co-operatives, continues … Challenge: No provision indication if co-operative is “Open” or “Closed” co-operative Constitution of co-operative must indicate if it is an “open co-operative” or “closed co-operative”; Page 10, Lines 49 to 52 A co-operative must indicate all business transactions concluded with members and non-members in its annual financial statements.Page 13, Lines 14 to 16

  36. Area amended: Constitution of Secondary, Tertiary and the Apex Co-operatives Challenge: Ensure alignment with interest of members and focus area • Constitution of co-operative must provide for: • for the further objectives of a secondary, tertiary or the national apex co-operative which may include any activity that is not inconsistent with the objectives of any of its members, and which is undertaken for their exclusive benefit; and • The further objectives of a tertiary or the national apex co-operative which may include representing the interests of co-operatives within a sector or region, providing assistance for education and training, establishing a guarantee fund to facilitate external financing of its members, and the establishment of an audit fund to assist members to have their operations audited;Page 12, Lines 35 to 46

  37. Area amended: Restrictions on the functions of co-operative Challenge: Clarity on restrictions on functions • A co-operative must not carry out an objective or perform an action not authorised by its constitution; Page 13, Lines 14 to 16 • On conviction of a contravention a co-operative or director of a co-operative will be liable to a fine not exceeding one million rand.Page 13, Line 20

  38. Area amended: Proxies Challenge: Confusion on appointment and limits to proxies • Clear guidelines on the appointment and limits of proxies. • Members may appoint one proxy; • Appointment must be in writing and signed by member; • Valid for period stated on the written appointment; • Number of proxies a member may carry on behalf of other members may not be more than 5% of total membership of the Co-operative Page 15, Lines 12 to 31

  39. Area amended: Advisory Board Challenge: Connotation of word “Board” suggest that the structure has legal powers, whereas its objective is for advisory purposes Advisory Board replaced by Advisory Council.Page 26 Line 25 to Page 27 line 22 Functions of the Advisory Council are to advise the Minister and to make recommendations with regard to policies and programmes for the development of co-operatives.Page 27, Lines 28 and 29

  40. Area amended: Co-operative Development Agency Challenge: Support available not tailor made for co-operatives Co-operative Agency established as government component to perform its powers and functions in accordance to this Act and any other relevant law. May after consultations with authorities establish provincial or district satellite branches (one-stop-shop and co-location). Page 28, Line 5 to Page 31 Line 45

  41. Area amended: Satellite Branches of the Co-operatives Development Agency • Stipulate that the Agency must enter into MoU with member of Executive Council responsible for economic development in the provinces or the Municipal Council Page 30, Lines 19 to 22 • Delegate functions of the satellite offices to the provincial department responsible for economic development or the Municipal Council Page 30, Lines 23 to 29 • Must implement the MoU which must be monitored through the MINMEC or other relevant structures Page 30, Lines 30 and 31 Aim: To be effective, the Agency needs a provincial footprint

  42. Area amended: Co-operative Development Agency, continues … • Objectives inter alia includes: • Support, promote and assist with the development of co-operatives; • Provide financial and non-financial support to co-operatives; • Provide business support services to co-operatives; • Provide, facilitate and coordinate training and education; • Assist with compliance to legislative requirements; • Provide access to information; • Carry out independent review reports; etc.Page 28, Line 15 to 45

  43. Area amended: Co-operative Development Agency, continues .. • Functions inter alia includes: • Financial support services; • Non-financial support; • Education and training; • Support and extension services; • Market development; • Monitoring and evaluation; etc Page 28 Line 46 to Page 30 Line 15

  44. Area amended: Co-operatives Tribunal Challenge: Enforcement of Legislation; dispute resolution and judicial management Ensure compliance with legislative requirements; Assist with judicial management, winding-up, deregistration, conflict resolution and liquidation. Envisaged that Head office will be in the dti with ability to be mobile to serve all the length and breadth of South Africa.Page 32 Line 1 to Page 39 Line 55

  45. Area amended: Co-operatives Tribunal, continues… • Functions inter alia includes: • Adjudicate to any application made in terms of Act and make appropriate recommendations • Assist with conflict resolution; • Assist with requested disollution, winding up or liquidation • Assist with enforcement of compliance with provisions of Act; • Enforcement/investigating officers; etc Page 33 Line 24 to 60

  46. Area amended: Worker co-operatives Challenge: Abuse of employees and circumvention of Labour Relations Act and Basic Conditions of Employment Act Employees and members of worker co-operatives whether a member or non-member is deemed to be an employee as defined in terms of the Labour Act as well as the Basic Conditions of Employment Act; Exemptions will be allowed based on conditions stipulated in regulations to be drafted by the Minister of Trade and Industry in consultation with the Minister of Labour Page 44 Line 53 to Page 45 Line 16

  47. Area amended: Intergovernmental relations framework & structures Aim: to ensure effective cooperation amongst three spheres of government with respect to co-operative development • Appropriate intergovernmental relations frameworks must be established in accordance with Act and inline with other Legal requirements Page 40, Lines 1 to 24 • Establishment of intergovernmental structures Page 40, Line 25 to Page 42 Line 30 • Provide for framework for intergovernmental relations Page 42, Line 31 Page 44 Line 36

  48. Area amended: Functions of Intergovernmental structures and administrative arrangements Aim: to provide clarity on functions, administrative and procedural arrangements with regard to intergovernmental structures • Clarity is provided on the functions of the intergovernmental structures , i.e. promote co-operatives, ensure co-ordination on planning, budgeting, provisioning of services, advise Minister and members of Executive council on matters relating to co-operatives, etc Page 40, Line 55 to Page 41 Line 17 • Administrative and procedural arrangements must comply with the framework for intergovernmental relations Page 41, Line 20 to 23

  49. Area amended: Functions of Intergovernmental structures and administrative arrangements cont…. Aim: to provide clarity on functions, administrative and procedural arrangements with regard to intergovernmental structures • Submit copies of the approved minutes of all meetings to the Minister, members of the Executive Council responsible for economic development as well as the CDA, Tribunal and CIPC; • Perform any functions and duties in accordance with the principles of co-operative governance; • Perform any functions and duties as may be determined by the Minister by notice in the Gazette

  50. Area amended: Inter-Provincial co-ordination Committee on co-operatives Aim: to provide clarity on the establishment, composition and functioning of Inter-Provincial Co-ordination Committee on Co-operatives Clarity on the composition of members: Minister will appoint - Official from the dti; Official from COGTA; and One person per province; Appoint a Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson and members may designate an alternates to attend on his or her behalf; Frequency of meetings: Must meet at least on a quarterly basisPage 41, Lines 25 to 55

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