Swaneng Cooperative Society chairperson, Reggie Koee, a veteran member and firm supporter of the cooperative movement said the village gave birth to projects that have created employment and added value to the national gross domestic cake through the founder of brigades Patrick van Rensburg.Recently van Rensburg was recognised and accorded honour in absentia during the International Cooperative Day in recognition of the fact that he initiated the first cooperative society in Serowe in 1964.
Nearly 50 years down the line, cooperative societies have mushroomed countrywide and to date there is a total of 170 of them with a membership of 86,000 people and a total employment of 835 workers. They (the cooperative societies) have assets worth more than P112 million.The first cooperative society to be registered in the country after the Cooperative Movement Act was enacted was the Swaneng Consumers Cooperative Society. According to Koee, Swaneng Coop that was van Rensburg's brainchild, was situated behind the present Serowe Hotel after he (van Rensburg) realised there were few shops and the prices of goods were not controlled. He said the founder had a vision and duly consulted the village authorities that would then relay the idea to their subjects.
