DATE 28 02 2005

Dear Sir

I hereby wish to contribute my comment about the Co-operative Bill (B4-2005)

This Bill must highlight the importance of rural population participating in co-operatives because that is where unemployment and poverty is rife, by so doing a number of women and youth will benefit.

These Co-operatives must be given the same status as private and public companies as well as close corporations to participate in the Broad Based Economic Empowerment, Transactions such as Public Private Partnership, Ownership shareholding in big multinational corporations and state-owned enterprises.

Communities must be encouraged to move away from concentrating only in agricultural co-operatives as they originally were. We need to modernise and advance these Co-operatives in order for them to benefit a large number of people and competitive economically. Also, financing system must be put in place, especially for Co-operatives.

Thanks

Yours Sincere

Msawenkosi Ntombela (Mr)