INFORMAL CROSS-BORDER TRADERS CO-OPERATIVES, DIGITAL TRADE, AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

This chapter considers the role of co-operatives in promoting increased digital trade among informal cross-border traders (ICBTs). It reflects on the important role that ICBTs play in the context of intra-African trade and the challenges and opportunities for these traders brought about by digital trade. The chapter argues that while there are clear benefits of digital trade for ICBTs, the gendered digital divide may present substantial challenges. The majority of ICBTs are women, and excluding them from the benefits of growing digital trade would entrench existing inequalities. The chapter argues that co-operatives have already played an important role in promoting access to the benefits of digital trade elsewhere on the African continent and could play a similar role in South Africa. However, the chapter also reflects on the exclusion of co-operative members from labour and social protection and argues that the South African legal framework is not conducive to forming co-operatives. Finally, the chapter argues that while government financial support for co-operatives is commendable, greater awareness of the available funding is needed among ICBTs.