The South African National Civic Organisation Development Institute (SDI) was launched at the DUT Ritson Hall, Ritson Campus, last night and the event was a success.
The launch coincided with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by DUT Vice Chancellor Professor Ahmed Bawa and SDI CEO Sipho Khuzwayo. The MoU will promote co-operation, the exchange of information as well as expertise and joint projects primarily, but not limited to, the fields of community development, education and training as well as research and development in all disciplines.
The event was attended by high profile guests including eThekwini Chief Whip Councilor Stanley Xulu, Trade and Investment Department Deputy Minister Elizabeth Thabethe, SANCO President Lemias Mashile and Sibusiso Ndebele, Transport Minister who delivered the keynote address.
Ruth Bhengu, SANCO and SDI co-founder said SDI was a resolution of the ANC in 1990 when it resolved that it would adopt an approach where it enables people to be involved in their own sustainable development when it became government. She added that in line with that resolution, SANCO then resolved in 1992 to adopt a people centered approach.
“The history of our country is unfortunately that of separate development. This state of affairs has catapulted the country to the verge of a welfare state where communities rely on the state for their own livelihood,” she said.
She said SANCO is opening a new page to enable communities to become their own providers and the chosen tool is the cooperative concept. For government to broaden its revenue base and decrease the high demand on state grants, it should buy products and services from cooperatives. This would reduce poverty, said Bhengu.
She said the SDI will “identify and mobilise” poverty stricken communities and households, child headed families as well as households with terminally ill breadwinners and form them into cooperatives. These families will also be trained so that they become self reliant instead of relying on government grants which will decrease the burden on state grants.
“In summary, the Institute has been established to develop a people centered and people driven community development programme that covers civic education, community leadership development; cooperative development and support as a means for reducing poverty and facilitating economic transformation,” said Bhengu.
Speaking on behalf of Dr Zweli Mkhize, the KZN Premier, Cyril Xaba said NGOs, including SANCO played an invaluable part in the apartheid struggle. He said those were harsh times and NGOs were harassed and some even paid the “ultimate price”. “We all know how the apartheid government tried to stop NGO funding because they were a thorn on their side. For this (the part played by NGOs in the apartheid struggle), we are forever grateful. It’s good to see the NGOs taking their mandate forward. We are proud to witness this initiative. May it serve as an example to others to create innovative structures that will serve the community,” said Xaba.
Deputy Minister Thabethe said the Cooperatives Act is being amended for it to work better for the people. “The law isn’t cast in stone. It needs to be amended if it’s not working for our people,” she said.
Minister Ndebele said meeting community needs is the basic challenge of local government. He said inequality, poverty, ageing infrastructure, skills shortage and high labour costs are challenges that SANCO can play a critical role in addressing. Since inception, SANCO has worked towards improving people’s lives, said Ndebele. He made an example of the Masakhane Renovation Schools Project, an SDI completed projected which benefited four schools in the Umuziwabantu Local Municipality, Ugu District Municipality.
He said Kenya has taken the cooperatives scheme and made it work for it, adding that South Africa could learn at lot from the country.
–Sinegugu Ndlovu
Caption: SDI CEO Sipho Khuzwayo and DUT Vice-Chancellor Professor Ahmed Bawa sign the MoU which will promote co-operation, the exchange of information, expertise and joint projects between DUT and the SDI.
