Bucs supporters go beyond football

When supporters of soccer giants Orlando Pirates came together to start a club, they realised as years went by that they had become so close and needed to do more to help each other in times of need.

Hence in 2015, after years of being members of the fans club, they formed the Great Ladies Women’s League which they decided would be a stokvel that would go a long way in ensuring that they are there for each other during difficult times.

Starting with a little contribution of R15, they opened a stokvel account with one of the leading banks in the country and they insured themselves.

It pays out R10,000 when a member dies.

“We just thought we needed to do something more than just going to the stadium to support our favourite team,” said stokvel member Nomvula Mosia.

“We had to do something to keep ourselves busy as we are a group of ladies and we had so many responsibilities in our homes. We then decided that whenever a member had a bereavement, we would contribute something,” she said.

The stokvel now has 36 members and they now contribute R25 towards the stokvel account which still pays out R10,000 when a member passes away.

She said as time went by, they realised that they needed to expand and include members’ dependents and they started a grocery stokvel.

“People don’t always have money and no one knows when they will have a bereavement in their family, hence we decided to start the grocery stokvel.

“We have paired ourselves, so two members will buy one 10kg each of mealie meal or whatever food stuff or items we have included on our list. We are very specific about which brands we want and there is no compromise.

“What we do is each member will go buy whatever they are supposed to and bring it to my house and then the member who has a bereavement will pick up their groceries,” Mosia said.

She said there were months when they had three to four bereavements.

Mosia said the stokvel was recently invited to a presentation at one of the leading supermarkets in the country which gave them a deal they could not resist.

“They offered us a deal to deliver the groceries at one place and I believe it is a great deal because every month we have bereavements and we have to buy groceries.

“We are stretched, especially when there is more than one bereavement a month because we spend a lot of money on transport and getting the groceries delivered at my place and then the member will come pick it up. So, imagine the admin and having to spend money on transport just to buy groceries.

“I thought the offer was good and we have discussed it and we will start putting money to cover us for at least three funerals as a start in January. This means each member will contribute R600 in January and it will cover three funerals and whenever we have used money for one funeral, we will top up to ensure that we are covered for three funerals at all times,” said Mosia.

She said the grocery stokvel covered a member plus five dependants.

Stokvel member Thandi Mosetu, who had a bereavement recently, said she was happy with the stokvel and was grateful for the helping hand.

“The groceries were enough. I did not have to top up anything. I just had to buy meat. Food is expensive now and without the stokvel, I would have spent a lot of money to buy groceries.”

Their grocery list includes, among other things, two items each of:

10kg mealie meal,

10kg rice,

Cooking oil,

Toilet paper,

Canned foods,

Spices

Washing powder,

Milk,

Eggs, and

Flour

Add a twist to your stokvel with SA’s quality brands.

mashabas@sowetan.co.za