TIMHISI stokvel doesn’t want to be outdone by younger stokvels in their kasi.
After seeing young people creating their own stokvels, a few friends from Mamelodi West in Tshwane decided to form their own.
They started the stokvel with eight members two years ago but today it has 18.
They meet whenever there is a funeral at a member’s family and contribute R50.
Chairman Jack Ndlovu (54) said they would not be outdone by young people.
“The young people did not want people older than them joining their stokvel so we formed a stokvel with people of our age.”
He said they were overwhelmed when many people of their age wanted to join their stokvel.
The members erect tents and cook at funerals. They have already helped 15 families bury their loved ones with dignity.
He said as soon as they hear word that a member’s close relative has died, they contribute money and give it to the grieving member within 48 hours.
“When people see us at funerals, they think we are a catering company hired for the funeral. We do our work with pride and compassion. Our job is to make sure that the family doesn’t have to worry about catering and cleaning,” he said.
He said even though their stokvel was only two years old, they felt like they had known each other for a very long time.
“We treat each other as family.”
He said their plan is to leave Timhisi in the hands of their children.
“We want them to know that no person is an island, and that a person is a person by how they live with others. Our kids should take over from where we let off and carry our stokvel forward.”