SPAR drives financial education for Katlehong women through Stokvel Talks

Women in Katlehong and nearby communities gained valuable financial education this Women’s Month, thanks to a partnership between The SPAR Group and media company, Stokvel Talk.

The initiative, centred on empowering women through knowledge, used the familiar practice of stokvels to encourage smarter money management, savings, and investment.

The Stokvel Talk Roadshows, supported by SPAR, offered free sessions that combined practical financial insights with interactive discussions. Women attending the events walked away with savings tips and strategies to grow their money, while also networking with like-minded community members who share the same goals of building financial independence.

“As a community-based retailer with stores run by local owners, we understand that for millions of South African women, stokvels have always been about more than just money. Stokvels are about strength, trust and friendship. That is why SPAR stands proudly alongside women as they continue to use stokvels to achieve financial independence and build brighter futures for their families,” said Mpudi Maubane, The SPAR Group National PR, Communications and Sponsorships Manager.

Stokvels remain a powerful financial education tool in South Africa. With around 11.5 million members—57% of them women—stokvels collectively channel an estimated R50 billion annually into savings and investments.

Traditionally focused on family welfare and burial societies, many stokvels are now evolving into multipurpose clubs, creating opportunities for women to diversify and expand their financial knowledge.

The events also highlighted that financial empowerment cannot be separated from broader social issues. One such issue is period poverty, which continues to affect the education and confidence of young girls across the country.

“It is appropriate that we also use these kinds of events to shine a light on an issue that affects thousands of young girls every day, namely period poverty,” said Maubane. “For many families, sanitary pads are a luxury. This means that around 30% of South Africa’s girl learners are forced to miss school every month. Over a year, that adds up to about 50 days of lost learning, impacting girls’ confidence, school academic results and future dreams.”

Through its End Period Poverty campaign, SPAR has committed to eradicating this challenge by 2030, encouraging stokvel groups, families, and small businesses to support the movement.

“To reach this goal, it is important that at events like Stokvel Talks, we bring stokvel members, small business owners, and families together to play their part in ensuring that girls are not held back. By turning small acts of giving into a national movement, SPAR believes we can make sure no girl is left behind because of her period,” Maubane added.

By combining financial education with community upliftment, SPAR’s collaboration with Stokvel Talk is helping women turn their collective savings into a foundation for empowerment—transforming stokvels into vehicles for knowledge, independence, and social change.