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Background

The Co-operative and Policy Alternative Center (COPAC) was formed in 1999 as a grass roots development organisation. It began with an ambition to contribute, through a bottom up practice, to reconstruction and development in post-apartheid South Africa. It has thus orientated itself to build capacity amongst poor communities to achieve self reliant, collectively driven, sustainable and participatory development. As a non-governmental organisation it was initially established as an association governed by a constitution with a governing committee. In 2001 it registered as a not-for-profit section 21 company. During this time it expanded its operations, opened an office and strengthened its board. As COPAC pursued its objectives it has worked with progressive social movements, government departments, township communities and has partnered with several non-governmental organisations.

Vision

Building human solidarity to sustain life.

Objectives

COPAC's development programs have been guided by the following objectives that are enshrined in its founding documents:

  • The development of a co-operative movement and sector in South Africa;
  • The promotion of alternatives that meet the needs of workers, the poor, women and youth.

Programs

COPAC has since its inception worked with 3 programs to promote its objectives:

Co-operative Capacitation and Development (training, advocacy and research)

  • Developed training resources for sustainability in co-operatives - a basic introductory guide to co-operatives, a Problem Solving Leadership training manual, Financial Management and Income Generation manual;
  • Completed a comprehensive literature review on co-operatives;
  • Case study on the MAGWA Tea Estate and recommendations for co-operative conversion;
  • Completed a comparative study of the Grameen Bank, Village Co-operative Banks and Savings and Credit Co-operatives (SACCOs) and used this as a basis for round table discussions for alternative micro-finance as part of the Eco-city Project;
  • Hosted an international conference on Co-operative Movements and Legislation in 2001, in partnership with the National Co-operative Association of South Africa;
  • Engaged with the co-operative legislative review and policy process of national government;
  • Drafted the Johannesburg Metro's Co-operative Policy and Strategy;
  • Drafted the Gauteng Provincial Government's Co-operative Policy and Strategy;
  • Completed and published the first comprehensive quantitative study of co-operatives in Gauteng Province;
  • Conducted and completed a research report on the emerging support environment for cooperatives;
  • Hosted an international conference in 2007 entitled: Building Human Solidarity- Cooperative Alternatives To Capitalist Globalisation

Sustainable Local Economic Development

  • Experimentation with about 65 co-operative projects in various local economic sectors - waste recycling, organic farming, manufacturing, housing, micro-finance and youth awareness;
  • It has pioneered a model of sustainable local manufacturing for local communities, a model for Co-operative Sustainable Local Economic Development Agencies for the Peoples Housing Process and has assisted with the promotion and establishment of the Eco-city concept and Eco-village, in Ivory Park, over the past 5 years.
  • Developed the Local Economic Development policy for the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan council;
  • Developed a Poverty Profile and Poverty Eradication Strategy for the Sedibeng Municipal Council.

Democratisation

  • Developed training resources for trade unions on labour laws;
  • Developed in partnership with the Eco-city trust a manual to train communities about
    sustainable local economic development;

Organisation and Governance

COPAC was never intended to be a large organisation. Its emphasis has been on program based project interventions. As a result it has never built a large bureaucracy. It has worked with a core staff of 3-4 people over the years and has assembled project teams, with the required technical expertise, as and when required. Most of its staff have also had a strong activist orientation and practice.

It functions with policies and legal procedures defined by its board, the main governing structure. Since its formation into a section 21 not-for-profit company in 2003, COPAC's governance practice has been informed by the legal requirements contained in its memorandum and articles of association. Its board meets regularly during each year and it has made important policy and strategic decisions that guide the organisation.

The current board of the organisation is made up of three people:
Anne Sugrue -she is a leading environmental activist in the country and has been the main visionary guiding the Eco-city Trust project in Ivory Park. This project has led to the development of the first modern eco-village in an African township;
Randall Howard -is the General Secretary of the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (SATAWU). This is one of the most strategic unions in the South African economy and an important affiliate of COSATU;
Vishwas Satgar - is the executive director on the board and he has been a grass roots activist for the past 24 years.

Future plans

COPAC intends to contribute to grass roots development in the following ways over the next few years:

  • Developing more detailed research on co-operatives;
  • Assisting the co-operative movement and government with capacity building for cooperatives and the co-operative movement.
  • Building the capacity of ward committees to ensure community led development.