- Over R1-million in prize money was handed out to stokvels showing strong leadership, discipline and innovation in tough economic times.
- The awards, now in their second year, aim to empower stokvel members through recognition, storytelling and financial partnerships.
The glitz and glamour of Johannesburg’s Houghton Hotel set the stage for one of the most exciting nights in community finance — the 2025 Absa Stokvel Awards.
Hundreds of guests, nominees and supporters came together on Saturday, 29 November, to honour South Africa’s best-performing stokvels — the savings clubs that keep millions of families afloat during hard times.
In every community across South Africa, there’s a story waiting to be told — a story of resilience, unity and the unwavering spirit of Ubuntu.
At the heart of many of these stories are stokvels: a beacon of hope in tough times, and a symbol of togetherness when everything else falls apart.
The Absa Stokvel Awards were launched in 2024 to honour this tradition — and to give these powerful groups their moment in the spotlight.
This year’s theme, “Every Story Deserves a Stage”, focused on storytelling and celebrating the people behind the savings.
“We are here to celebrate stokvel stars,” said Absa Executive Tawanda Rumhuma. “These are the everyday heroes building financial strength through trust, planning and working together.”
Groups from across the country entered — from grocery stokvels and burial societies to bold investment collectives. Seven categories were judged, looking at each group’s community impact, innovation and financial sustainability.
Each category winner walked away with R50,000. Those with an Absa Investment Club Account doubled their winnings to R100,000. A total of R1-million was shared among the winners.
The recognition means more than the prize money. For many, it was the first time their hard work was publicly honoured.
Pictured above: Absa worker.
Image source: Supplied
