SANCO Development Trust

(South african national civil organisation)

 

 

 

COMPANY PROFILE

 

"It's all in qualitative numbers"

 

SANCO is the direct product of the proud civic tradition of the South African Black population.  Throughout, their struggle against apartheid, the Black people of South Africa organised themselves into community groupings that simultaneously fought for a qualitative change in their social and community lives, the so-called 'bread-and-butter' issues, whilst tackling the overall political issues of apartheid.  All across the country these community groupings acted as the governance body and the advocacy agents against the apartheid illegitimate government and for the community.  They called themselves civics.

 

They meteoric rise as effective agents and guardians of community well-being came to a crescendo in the mid-1980s.  The civic movement initiated, together with other political groupings, like the African National Congress (ANC), the formation of the United Democratic Front (UDF).  The UDF came to symbolise the broad united action in resistance of apartheid within South Africa.  The civic movement was regarded as the strongest aspect of the UDF.  Within the UDF the civic movement operated as a national, provincial, and regional structure as opposed to just a local organisation.  Such that with the unbanning of the ANC in 1990, shortly thereafter, the UDF was disbanded, and SANCO was formally launched on the 21st of March 1992 in Uitenhage (now known as the Nelson Mandela Metropole).  An organisation and movement that has existed for a very long time, was now formally given both a name and a persona.

 

SANCO was one of the leaders during the pre-1994 period of change, now in the post-1994 period SANCO works to be a constructive and still a revolutionary organisation. How will this be achieved and what will the focus be? In terms of its current constitution and goals the following:

 

The reach and commitment of the South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO) in the various communities through-out South Africa, to build a better future in a democratic and free country, holds great advantages for both communities and official Governmental Office Bearers.

 

SANCO has a membership (subscribed members) of 2,2 million people and wide support among communities, spanning across the 9 provincial, 56 regional and 4200 branch offices of SANCO. Its support base has since increased to 6 million, to date.

 

The guiding motto of the organisation is " People-Centered and People-Driven" and SANCO is committed to promote a process of nation building, truth and reconciliation, socio-economic and political development, reconstruction, transformation and peace and prosperity.

 

In living its goals SANCO is committed to strive for the following:

 

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The improvement of living conditions.

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The eradication of poverty, homelessness and insecurity.

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The building of a united community and country.

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The promotion of social-economic and political justice for all.

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The creation of empowerment structures.

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Job creation, wealth creation and distribution of resources.

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Social security and comfort of all.

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The implementation of the freedoms and securities enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa including freedom of speech, freedom of movement, freedom of association and equality for all.

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To actively and conscientiously promote the participation of youth and women in all its activities,  and

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The implementation of the reconstruction and development programme.

 

Given that SANCO is a Community Based Organisation and a key Civil Society player, membership is open to all the peoples of South Africa irrespective of race, gender, political affiliation, class and geographical location above the age of 17 who accepts the policies and principles of SANCO and furthermore promotes its aims and objectives. Also it serves to give a voice to many - including minority groups - in the daily survival challenges that face the peoples of South Africa.

 

SANCO also overcome the limitations other Civil Society groupings face, because it is constituency based and good communication mechanisms exist. Typically limitations other Civil Society role-players face, include:

 

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Community Based Organisations (CBO) and Non-governmental Organisations (NGO) face limitations when the CBO or NGO is relatively small and not constituency based. "Real" representation in terms of a voice for the masses, monitoring of actions and bottom-up and top-down communication are normally not in place.

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Labour Movements on the other hand, do not represent the urban and rural unemployed masses.

 

CONTACT

Linda Buthulezi

082-786-2537