THE ROLE OF STOKVELS IN IMPROVING PEOPLE’S LIVES: THE CASE IN ORANGE FARM, JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA

Authors

  • Sally Matuku Department of Social Work, University of the Witwatersrand
  • Edwell Kaseke Department of Social Work, University of the Witwatersrand

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15270/50-4-388

Keywords:

stokvel, poverty, income security, basic needs, empowerment, women

Abstract

Stokvels are self-help initiatives designed to respond to the problems of poverty and income insecurity in communities. Stokvels are thus a form of informal social security. Based on a study of members of stokvels in the Orange Farm community in Johannesburg, South Africa, the article examines the role of stokvels in improving the lives of their members. The results of the study showed that stokvels enable members to meet their basic needs. Stokvels also provide opportunities for members to save and invest and ultimately to accumulate assets. The results also show that stokvels promote the empowerment of women. 

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Author Biographies

Sally Matuku, Department of Social Work, University of the Witwatersrand

Post-graduate student, University of the Witwatersrand

Edwell Kaseke, Department of Social Work, University of the Witwatersrand

Professor in Social Work, University of the Witwatersrand

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Published

2014-11-03

How to Cite

Matuku, S., & Kaseke, E. (2014). THE ROLE OF STOKVELS IN IMPROVING PEOPLE’S LIVES: THE CASE IN ORANGE FARM, JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA. Social Work/Maatskaplike Werk, 50(4). https://doi.org/10.15270/50-4-388

Issue

Vol. 50 No. 4 (2014)

Section

Articles

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