Stokvel roadshow empowers Thembisa communities through financial education

Financial freedom is often viewed as a long-term goal, but for many South Africans it begins with something far more immediate: the ability to manage money, provide for a household and plan effectively for the month ahead.

In today’s economic climate, that challenge has become even greater.

With rising food prices and ongoing financial pressure, many households are forced to stretch their budgets further and make difficult decisions about daily essentials.

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According to the National Stokvel Association of South Africa (NASASA), more than 11.5 million South Africans are part of stokvels, contributing an estimated R50 billion annually.

These savings groups have become an essential financial lifeline for many communities, offering structure, discipline and collective support.

Across the country, stokvels are not only about saving money, but also about planning, purchasing in bulk, and supporting members during important life events.

This community-driven approach to financial management continues to strengthen household resilience and local economic participation.

In Thembisa, the SPAR and Stokvel Talk Roadshow visited Tshepisa Primary School on April 18, bringing together various stokvel groups for an information-sharing session focused on financial education, registration and sustainable growth.

The initiative aimed to assist stokvel members in formalising their groups, improving financial management, and exploring opportunities to grow their savings through structured systems and partnerships.

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Stokvel Talk Roadshow founder Erick Phiri said the monthly campaign focuses on educating and empowering communities through practical financial guidance and access to services.

“We do everything on a monthly basis where we visit various communities in the province, offering education and services by providing information and assistance in safeguarding their money,” said Phiri.

He added that the initiative brings together banks, retail partners and healthcare services to support different types of stokvels.

“Our aim is also to encourage stokvels to start businesses within their communities to help fight unemployment. If they are in the retail space, we connect them with brands that can assist with bulk buying so they can sell and generate profit,” he said.

Phiri further noted that the long-term vision is to see stokvels in Thembisa transition into cooperative entities to expand their financial opportunities and sustainability.

SPAR South Africa Group head of PR, Mpudi Maubane, said the retailer views the stokvel sector as a key partner in supporting communities and understanding consumer needs.

“We travel around the province learning and understanding the purposes of stokvels. We engage with them to see how we can be involved, especially when it comes to bulk buying and planning timelines,” said Maubane.

She added that stokvel education is also aimed at encouraging better financial planning to avoid unnecessary spending and reduce costs for both consumers and retailers.

The event saw a full hall of stokvel groups from different communities in attendance, engaging with service providers and gaining insights into formal registration processes.

Organisers encouraged stokvels to register as legal entities or cooperatives, noting that groups of members operating informally may miss out on financial services, bulk purchasing benefits and broader economic opportunities.

The Thembisa leg of the roadshow forms part of a wider provincial initiative aimed at strengthening community-based financial systems and promoting sustainable economic participation.