1.  The Minority Front supports the KZN Agricultural Development Plan. HON. Members,  my focus is cooperatives. These are autonomous association of persons with common economic, social, cultural needs and aspirations through jointly-owned and democratically-controlled enterprises, therefore, these should be based on the values of self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity and solidarity.
2. Currently, in KZN, information on cooperatives is fragmented but research shows that this department needs to lead such initiatives seamlessly to speed economic participation; through autonomy and independence; education, training and information, cooperation among cooperatives and concern for community should serve as guidelines to carry out their operations.
3. HON. MEC and Chairperson, where in this budget is such an allocation made to rebuilding the cooperative movement?  I have confidence in both leaderships and the department’s Radical Economic Transformation Strategy presented in this budget speech.
4. De-racialising challenges of “black” and “white” cooperatives is the most important challenge HON. Members facing KZN’s cooperative development. The current statistics available are not useful.
5. HON. Members, we can draw on the expertise of the Canadian co-operative movement which, supports and finances projects in developing countries of South America, Africa and Asia. HON. MEC, your department together with ADA should research this.
6. The MF would like to see tertiary institutions developing special courses for cooperative managers and schools promoting the cooperative idea in the curriculum. Consideration of establishing a national cooperatives college in SA would also be a welcomed initiative, although Cedara is doing some courses in this area.

HON. MEC the MF supports this budget of R2,197 billion, with these inputs.

Thank You.

Shameen Thakur- Rajbansi

Minority Front  MPL KZN Legislature