By Palesa Matlala
- The women each contribute R200 a month so they can buy stationery in bulk before prices rise in December and January.
- Dipuo Phala says the stokvel helps her prepare for school costs while still giving her children a joyful December holiday.
Seven mothers from Soweto have found a smart way to beat the painful cost of back-to-school shopping.
They have started a school stationery stokvel.
Each woman contributes R200 every month towards stationery for their children.
The group buys in bulk from wholesalers before prices shoot up in December and January.
For many parents, the start of the school year is stressful.
They must buy uniforms, shoes, bags, books, pens, pencils, calculators and other items while also trying to survive the festive season.
Dipuo Phala, 34, said the stokvel has saved her from panic buying in January.
“Every year stationery becomes more expensive. If you wait until January, you suffer,” said Phala.
She has two children and saves about R1,000 through the stokvel.
She said buying from wholesalers helps the mothers stretch their money further.
“We target wholesalers because they are cheaper. If we buy together, we get more for less,” she said.
Phala said December is already a hard month for parents.
Children want clothes, food, outings and a little festive joy.
But school costs are just around the corner.
“As a mother, you still want your children to enjoy the holiday. But you also know January is coming with school lists,” she said.
“That is why this stokvel helps us. It gives us breathing space.”
The mothers say stationery rarely goes on discount.
Instead, prices often rise when demand is high.
A basic school list can include exercise books, rulers, pens, pencils, erasers, crayons, glue, plastic covers and files.
For older learners, items such as scientific calculators can push costs even higher.
Parents also have to buy uniforms, shoes, jerseys and school bags.
Some back-to-school costs can go beyond R5,000, depending on the school and grade.
For low-income families, that can wipe out more than a month’s wages.
Phala said the stokvel is not just about money.
It is also about support.
“When one mother is struggling, the group gives her strength. We remind each other why we started,” she said.
She said the women want to continue growing the stokvel and possibly include uniforms in future.
For now, their focus is making sure their children start the school year with everything they need.
“We may not be rich, but our children must never feel left behind at school,” said Phala.
The mothers hope other parents will start similar groups in their communities.
They believe planning together is better than suffering alone in January.
Pictured above: Dipuo Phala and other Soweto mothers have started a stationery stokvel to help cover back-to-school costs.
Image source: Supplied
