The National Co-operatives Association of South Africa (NCASA) stands as a cornerstone in the development and promotion of co-operatives in South Africa. Established in 1996, shortly after the dawn of democracy, NCASA emerged to address the need for an inclusive and representative co-operative movement that would reflect the diversity and aspirations of a newly liberated nation.

Breaking New Ground

Incorporated under the then Co-operatives Act of 1981, NCASA took on the monumental task of breaking the historical dominance of white-led co-operatives, particularly in agriculture and finance. It sought to democratize economic participation by building a new model of cooperative enterprise that was inclusive, progressive, and aligned with international trends. NCASA positioned itself not merely as a service organization but as a national driver of sectoral development, aligning co-operatives with South Africa’s broader social and economic transformation.

This pivotal role saw NCASA become a key voice at Nedlac (National Economic Development and Labour Council), representing the economic sector of the Community Constituency. One of its major early victories was influencing the transfer of co-operative registration and regulation from the Department of Agriculture to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), marking a shift in how co-operatives were positioned within the national economy.

Legislative Milestones

NCASA was instrumental in the development and advocacy of the Co-operatives Act of 2005, which replaced outdated legislation and laid a foundation for modern co-operative growth in South Africa. This Act later underwent further refinement through the 2013 amendments, again with strong input from NCASA. These legal milestones strengthened the co-operative model as a viable tool for economic participation, particularly among historically disadvantaged communities.

Building Sectoral Power

A key element of NCASA’s strategy has been the development of national sectoral co-operatives, bringing structure and voice to various economic sectors. Some of the notable national co-operative bodies established or supported by NCASA include:

• South African Federation of Burial Societies (SAFOBS) – leading in the insurance and burial sector.
• South African Housing Co-operative Association (SAHCA) – now evolved into the Housing and Property Tertiary Co-operative.
• South African Credit Co-operative League (SACCOL) – now known as NACFISA, a key player in the financial services space.
• South African National Apex Tertiary Co-operative (SANACO) – providing leadership across various worker-related sectors.

These entities work as part of an integrated system to build co-operative enterprises that actively address South Africa’s triple challenges of poverty, unemployment, and inequality.

A Coordinated National Structure

NCASA is led by a board composed of regional representatives who each carry responsibility for national sectoral development across various economic areas—from agriculture and finance to tourism, mining, housing, and IT. This decentralized but coordinated structure enables NCASA to maintain a strong grassroots connection while guiding national policy and development initiatives.

Here are some notable board members and their sectoral focus:

• Zacharia Matsela (Gauteng) – Interim Board Chairperson for Property Professionals
• Dr Zandy Makhaye (KwaZulu-Natal) – Interim Board General Secretary for Social Development
• Norman Rapholo (Limpopo) – Deputy Chairperson for Mining
• Brendaline Fredericks (Western Cape) – Treasurer for Housing Development
• Loselo Segwe (North West) – Tourism Sector
• Sabelo Mamba (Mpumalanga) – Finance Sector

The General Manager, Mr. Mzukisi Ronyuza, oversees daily operations and coordination between the national office and sectoral or provincial bodies.

Strategic Vision and Future Plans

NCASA’s long-term vision is to integrate co-operative development within the social and economic clusters of government departments, using co-operatives as tools to solve national socio-economic issues. Its adopted co-operative system enables sectors to receive institutional support unless they opt to self-provide. In such cases, NCASA facilitates the organization of new sectors to ensure no gap in representation or support.