It all started with a friendship at work.
These workers say they became more than just colleagues at the Rand Water and Sanitation Project since working there in 2010.
They put the cherry on the cake of their friendship when they decided to start a society on 4 April 2015.
Today Ipatleng Helping Hands Society in Winterveldt, north of Tshwane counts seven women and one man, who serves as treasurer.
Even though Ipatleng is overwhelmingly dominated by women, treasurer Lawrence Mboweni said he wasn’t worried about that at all.
“The kind of respect we have for one another really humbles me. We don’t see each other or treat one another by looking at gender or age but rather as family,” Lawrence told SunStokvel.
The members of Ipatleng meet in the first week of every month to make a contribution of R150. They rotate meetings according to alphabetical order.
The treasurer and his deputy deposit the money into the society’s bank account at the end of a meeting.
Chairwoman Thoko Tabane told SunStokvel that when a member’s loved one passed away they gave a payout of R3 500 as a sign of condolence.
“Most importantly we make ourselves available and give a helping hand where possible,” said Thoko.
The club will be happy to get more members but they will first be screened.
“We take our organisation seriously. We need committed people with fresh ideas to take us forward, not backward!” Thoko said.