Presentation on the South African Federation of Burial Society (SAFOBS) Secondary Co operatives to the Burial Society Indaba Date: 28/10/2011

What is a Co-operative? “an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social, and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly-owned and democratically controlled enterprise.” A membership based business organisation that must generate income for its sustainability as well as its members.

Principles of Cooperatives Cooperatives operate on the basis of principles and ethics of good practice; Open and Voluntary Membership Democratic Member Control Member Economic Participation Autonomy and Independence Education, Training and Transformation Cooperation among Co-operatives Concern for Communities

Purpose to which Coops began to address the problems of economic and social development i.e Popular ownership of capital and equal opportunity of education and employment for all of society Confront the potential poverty caused by replacement and displacement of labour Community as a means for human development

Types of Coops Service Cooperatives – are cooperatives established by members to receive decent services i.e SACCO’s, Consumers, Housing etc Worker Cooperatives – are formed by members to create decent employment to themselves i.e construction cooperatives, agricultural cooperatives etc

Key activities when forming a cooperative Development of an idea into a business plan Verify and identify your market – do a feasibility study Ensure that among the cooperative members a skills base for the industry Check the funding possibilities for your idea Register yourselves as a cooperative

Support Opportunities to Cooperatives in SA SAFOBS-Secondary co operatives SANACO – cooperatives movement Thedti – has an oversight policy responsibility National Development Agencies (NDA) Development Finance Institutions (DFI) Provincial Agencies Government departments Municipalities

SAFOBS believes that... Cooperatives can create more work and wealth opportunities to the majority of the people Cooperatives can assist the government to reach its targets and ultimately eradicate poverty Cooperatives develop communities socially, economically and culturally

Continue Promote the concept and practice of a burial society – becoming the organized voice of the burial societies; Educate and train members in burial society organization and management; Share information through quarterly publication of Burial Society Voice newsletter Minimize of funeral costs, through bargaining and own insurance schemes. Engage in socio-economic projects, including consumer co-operatives, coffin production and sale and financial co-operative projects.

Thank You! Contact: Build the co-op burial society movement! Thulane Mabuza Tel: +27 (0)11 339 1592 Fax: +27 (0)86 606 3177 Mobile: +27 (0)82 677 2146 Email: safobs@webmail.co.za & thulane@sanaco.org