Stokvels - A Hidden Economy Unpacking the potential of South African traditional saving schemes

Stokvels have long been a safety net for millions of South Africans, providing financial security and social well being. This paper aims to not only contribute to the limited body of knowledge around these traditional saving schemes, but also illustrates the potential held for industry. Using data from an extensive survey conducted in 2011, the current landscape of Stokvels is given detailing their value, in addition to other statistics such as footprint. The paper then discusses what these findings mean for researchers and how they can continue eliciting insights from Stokvels juxtaposed with how industry can use this information.

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