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 housed 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.
