The co-operative as an appropriate form of enterprise for Black Economic Empowerment

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Date
2006-11
Authors
Schoeman, Nicolene Francina
Journal Title
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Volume Title
Publisher
University of the Free State
Abstract
English: In the South African context, BEE is not only regarded as a moral and social imperative, but also as a legislative one. BEE functions on two levels, namely the creation and sustenance of wealth, and the creation of opportunities, in order to widen the economic sphere. If successful transformation is to be achieved in South Africa, it is of vital importance that practical suggestions for its implementation be investigated. The co-operative has been described by international organisations like the International Co-operative Alliance, as a business enterprise that develops and /or empowers people through self-help. Locally the co-operative both on SMME and large corporate scale has been identified as a potential vehicle to drive the social and economic upliftment of the people of the South Africa. The Co-operatives Act 14 of 2005 was promulgated to give effect to this. Co-operatives have the following characteristics that make them ideally suited to the current South African situation: they are versatile in their application, they are accessible enterprises as initial establishment is cost effective and they are generally easy to establish, they provide both a social and economic function (dual function) to their members, generally apply a one-member-one-vote-system in management thereby promoting democratic principles, and they promote the concepts of individualism and autonomy within their structures. A successful co-operative enhances both individual and collective human dignity and promotes the values of ubuntu, which uplifts people on all levels, thereby complying with both the social and economic aspects of BEE in the creation of opportunities to widen the economic sphere. Furthermore, the cooperative as an enterprise complies with the BEE scorecard as well as with the Codes of Good Practice which were drafted by government in accordance with the provisions of the Broad-based Black Economic Empowerment Act 53 of 2003.
Afrikaans: In Suid-Afrika word SEB nie net as ‘n morele en maatskaplike noodsaaklikheid beskou nie, maar ook as ‘n wetlike imperatief. SEB funksioneer op twee vlakke: die skepping en volhoubaarheid van welvaart sowel as die skepping van die nodige geleenthede aan alle Suid-Afrikaners om die basis van die ekonomie te verbreed. Om suksesvolle transformasie in Suid-Afrika te bewerkstellig is dit gebiedend noodsaaklik om praktiese voorstelle te oorweeg om SEB te laat slaag. Internasionale organisasies soos die International Cooperative Alliance beskou ‘n koöperasie as ‘n onderneming wat in staat is om die breë publiek te bemagtig deur self-bemagtiging. Op plaaslike vlak word die koöperasie gekenmerk as ‘n potensiële dryfveer vir die ekonomiese opheffing van die breë bevolking van Suid-Afrika. Koöperasies kan op KMMO- sowel as groot korporatiewe skaal gevestig word. In 2005 is die Koöperasie Wet 14 van 2005 gepromulgeer met die doel om registrasies van koöperasies te vergemaklik. Koöperasies beskik oor die volgende kenmerke, wat hulle ideaal geskik maak vir Suid-Afrikaanse omstandighede: koöperasies is veelsydige ondernemings, hulle is toeganklike ondernemings omdat hulle stigting koste-effektief is en daarom maklik tot stand kan kom; hulle het beide ‘n maatskaplike en ekonomiese funksie, ‘n een-mens-een-stem stelsel is van toepassing op die bestuur van die koöperasie en hierdeur word demokratiese bestuursbeginsels bevorder en laastens, word die beginsels van individualiteit en outonomie ook deur ‘n koöperasie bevredig. ‘n Suksesvolle koöperasie bevorder nie net die menswaardigheid van die individu nie, maar ook van die hele groep volgens die waardes van ubuntu en derhalwe beantwoord die soort onderneming aan die maatskaplike en ekonomiese vereistes van SEB, aangesien dit ekonomiese geleenthede skep om die ekonomiese basis te verbreed. Die koöperasie as onderneming voldoen aan die SEB telkaart, sowel as aan die Riglyne vir Goeie Praktyk wat deur die regering opgestel is, volgens die riglyne van die Wet op Breë Basis Swart Ekonomiese Bemagtiging 53 van 2003.
Description
Extracts from this dissertation were used in conjunction with statements and commentaries from the Agricultural Business Chamber in a report which was submitted to the NEDLAC Task Team for Co-operative Development in South Africa during July 2006.
Keywords
Business enterprise, Cooperative, Co-operative, Co-operative enterprise, Co-op, Co-operative law, Co-operative Societies Act 91 of 1981, Co-operatives Act 14 of 2005, Dual function, Social benefits in business, Stokvel, Ubuntu, Patronage proportion, Scorecard, Company, Broad-based Black Economic Empowerment Act 53 of 2, Broad-based Black Economic Empowerment, BEE, Black Economic Empowerment, Dissertation (LL.M. (Mercantile Law))--University of the Free State, 2006, Employee empowerment -- South Africa, Cooperative societies -- South Africa
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