The fall of Moshupa Co-op
Innocent Selatlhwa | Monday February 20, 2023 06:00
According to their by-laws, which regulate them, Moshupa Multipurpose Cooperative Society’s objectives were to improve the social and economic conditions of its members in accordance with cooperative principles; and more especially: To assist members to improve the quality of their livestock and agricultural produce; To arrange for the sale to members of animal feed, vaccines, medicines, fertilisers, agrochemicals, agricultural tools, and equipment and such other requisites of members for livestock breeding and agriculture; To exercise, encourage and sustain good governance by embracing change the use of technology and maintaining books of accounts.
According to a Daily News report of 2015, The then South African National Apex Cooperative (SANACO) president, Lawrence Bale commended Moshupa Multipurpose Co-op for operating at maximum aptitude and being able to sustain itself despite several factors which contribute to the collapse of societies. Bale said during the SA delegation's visit to the Moshupa Co-operative Society that it is indeed a living testimony of a buoyant co-operative as it responded to the community needs and challenges at the right time.
Eight years down the line, things have fallen apart almost irretrievably as now the Management Board and General Manager are at pains speaking to the media, let alone addressing the members.
The once buzzing home of Moshupa Multipurpose Cooperative which houses an agricultural shop, a liquor restaurant and a general dealer has almost become a white elephant. The agricultural shop and liquor restaurant are closed while the shop is only being used to house demoralised staff members whom are said to have stayed for some months without pay.
A Facebook post on the co-op Facebook page suggests that the leadership is not ready to face members as they are still working on 'normalising' things. “Maloko ba le tlotlegang re le itsesi fa re santse re tshwere ka thata re tlhatlhoba dibuka tsa lekgotla la lona go bona dithuso le bogakolodi go tsosolosa koporase, a bo gape go ka duelwa maloko ka jalo ga go ise go bonale sepe se se ka duelang maloko jaanong jaana re kopa le name le re emetse. Mme ka go dirwa le ditogamaano tsa go ka nna le letseno la madi go tlhoka nako le seka lare re itshegetse mogodu ka go bo go tsaya lebaka, mo go sone se re kopa le re inele diatla metsing le re emele e tlaare seemo se siama re tlaa epa pitso go tlhalosa tsotlhe le go le baya pele lenaneo la dituelo,” reads a post from January 17. The above loosely translates into “Distinguished members, you are notified that we are doing our best to get help and counsel on resuscitating our co-op and pay-up members. We have not yet gotten the money to pay members and we plead you continue being patient. Dealing with money requires time, we have not vanished with your money. We apologise for this and promise we will call you to explain everything and explain how payments would be made.”