Abstract:
In March 2014 the Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental
Affairs (DETEA) requested a study on all the co-operatives in the Free State Province. The
International Labour Organisation (ILO) then requested the SME Observatory of South Africa
based at the Centre for Development Support (CDS) of the University of the Free State
(UFS) to develop a proposal responding to the DETEA request. Over several meetings the
scope of the study was developed and a proposal was submitted that was endorsed by
DETEA and that forms part of the agreement between the UFS and the ILO for the execution of the study.
