The functions of the national apex co-operative are as follows:
| (a) | A national apex co-operative may establish relations with other co-operative organisations at national and international level. |
| (b) | A national apex co-operative may perform the following functions— |
| (i) | provide professional advice to its members; |
| (ii) | establish a guarantee fund to be used by its members in order to acquire funds to carry out economic activities; |
| (iii) | set up a solidarity fund, that may be used as capital by its members in times of financial distress; |
| (iv) | assist its members in order to improve their effectiveness, efficiency and sustainability; |
| (v) | assist, and provide on an annual basis information in respect of its members to the Co-operative Development Agency as contemplated in section 94A as regards all matters relating to the establishment and effective functioning of co-operatives in the Republic of South Africa; |
| (vi) | conduct and participate in awareness campaigns; |
| (vii) | undertake research relevant to the needs and growth of the co-operative movement; |
| (viii) | play an advocacy role by lobbying, and representing the interests of its members, to government by participating in the establishment of an appropriate policy, regulatory and administrative framework that promotes the co-operative movement; |
| (ix) | advise its members on developments, both nationally and internationally, relating to, or impacting on, its members in particular, and the co-operative movement in general; |
| (x) | provide training to its members; |
| (xi) | provide legal and other related services to its members; |
| (xii) | maintain membership information in respect of its tertiary co-operative members and where applicable, secondary co-operative members and their membership information; and |
| (xiii) | monitor the operational and economic status of the co-operative movement in South Africa and its contribution to the national and sectoral gross domestic product. |
| (xiv) | the creation of a fund to assist members to comply with financial reporting requirements. |
