- Motherwell mother Thandiwe Sweli joined a stokvel to buy kitchen items because saved cash always goes towards daily family needs.
- Group leader Sanelisiwe Ndzindzwa says members pay up to R470 monthly for air fryers that save money on cooking oil.
Motherwell families are changing the way they cook by joining stokvel groups to buy air fryers and pots.
Many women find it hard to save cash because of rising daily costs. Instead of opening shop accounts, they pay a monthly amount to a group.
Thandiwe Sweli works in retail and has three children. She joined a group called Kitchen Girls.
“If I try to save alone, the money disappears. A child needs shoes, or electricity runs out,” she said.
Each person in the Kitchen Girls group pays R200 a month. When a member’s turn comes, they receive a chosen kitchen item instead of cash.
Sanelisiwe Ndzindzwa leads several of these groups. She orders the items from a supplier in Johannesburg to get lower prices.
Members in her groups pay between R200 and R470 a month. After six months, everyone gets items like an air fryer, a pot set or cutlery.
“We are tired of buying five litres of oil every month,” she said.
She said air fryers use less electricity than ovens and cook without oil. This helps families save money.
She runs three groups that focus on different items, including dishes and traditional tools.
Sanelisiwe said the groups also help members who struggle to pay during tough times.
“In the township, we believe a person is a person through others,” she said.
A 2024 Ipsos study shows stokvels have about 11 million members in South Africa and handle over R50-billion every year.
Stokvel Academy founder Busi Skenjana said these groups are attracting younger people and high earners.
“The stokvel culture is still very much alive, but it’s evolving,” she said.
Pictured above: Pay R400 for six months to save up for an air fryer, iron cast pots and other household appliances.
Image source: Supplied
