RSP: R9.95

6 0 0 6 5 0 6 0 5 5 1 4 2

Stokvel Club: SIYAKHULAWE CATCH UP WITH

Don’t let Debt get you Down

June 2012 | ISSUE 17

brought to you by:

WIN a R500 Boxer Gift Card with Shibobo Maize Meal.MUSIC: Respecting The Elders Of Music.

This magazine is FREE to Stokvel Groups Registered with Boxer Superstores.

Our sit down with Ukhozi FM’s lovely lady

Feeling BetteRThis WinteR

Features 2 Lovely Lady D Our Sit Down With Dudu Khoza.19 Our Boxer Matters Boxer Youth Leadership Programme.20 Our Catch Up With Siyakhula Stokvel Club.

Personal Interests5 Our Banking Advice Don’t Let Debt Get You Down.12 Our Stokvel Advice Building Strong Stokvels.14 Our Cultural Advice The Sacrality Of A Cattle Kraal.

Stokvel Matters6 Our empowerment Giving Back To Your Community.8 Our Lifestyle Decision Making Tips. 21 Our Opinion Making Your Monthly Meeting Memorable.

Regulars10 Our Learning together Long Standing Stokvel Success.22 Our Stokvel Café Traditional Stokvels vs. Modern Stokvels.24 Our Music with RJ Benjamin Respecting The Elders Of Music.25 Q&A Just Who Is Shugasmakx?27 Our About You Take A Look At Your Winter Wardrobe.32 Our Competition

Lifestyle28 Our Health Feeling Better This Winter.30 Our Quiz Do You Worry Too Much?31 Our Recipe Maize Meal Treats.

Contents

1JUNE 2012

WRite tO US!Our Stokvel Magazine, P.O. Box 370, Westville, KwaZulu-Natal, 3630. Call us on (031) 275 7000, or Email us on: ourstokvel@boxer.co.za.

Pg 2

Pg 14

Pg 21

Pg 24

Pg 28

Stokvels are more than just a group of people that save together towards a comman goal. A Stokvel Club consists of people who trust each other and over time they form life long bonds with each other. A Stokvel Club can be regarded as an extended family. Members look to one another for support, advice and comfort. It is therefore important that every member of a Stokvel is invested in the wellbeing and continuity of their Club.

In this edition of ‘Our Stokvel’ Magazine, we take a closer look at Helping Your Stokvel Grow. We review Debt Management in Our Banking to help you as an individual to grow financially. And explore ways to Make Your Stokvel Meetings Memorable in Our Opinion. The exciting and inspirational Ukhozi FM Dj, Lady D talks about her life thus far and shares her secret to success in Our Feature.

Our Empowerment discusses how your Stokvel can give back to your community whilst building team work. Our Lifestyle looks at the responsibility of Decision Making within a Stokvel and helps to ease the process. Kwazi Khoza takes us on an exciting journey into the world of a Traditional and a Modern Stokvel Club in Our Stokvel Café. With Winter in our midst, Our About You shares some rather useful Winter Wardrobe fashion tips. Our Health discusses how you can stay healthy for less this winter and overcome the chill!

The Stokvel Social Trust discusses how to Build a Strong and Responsive Stokvel and answers more interesting questions from you. In Our Culture, Dr. Mndende explains The Significance of a Cattle kraal. You can also learn how to make one of Dudu Khoza’s tasty Maize Meal biscuits in Our Recipe.

So stay warm this Winter and enjoy this June Edition!

Boxer Superstores

Helping YOur StOkvel grOw…Helping YOur StOkvel grOw…

Feature Article

JUNE 2012

Lady D, well known radio personality on Ukhozi FM, has inspired and motivated many listeners throughout her career. The midday radio talk show host of ‘Jabulujule’ has gained a

listenership of millions and she has never failed to keep her fans entertained.

Being dedicated to your career is a time consuming task but having a family to

care for whilst being a full time career woman is even more demanding. Dudu Khoza, the amazing and talented Radio personality on Ukhozi FM, better known on air as Lady D, is a loving and devoted mother of two and knows all too well about living an extraordinary lifestyle.

This lovely lady has worked hard towards building her career and has now been doing it for 19 years. Her passion and love for music began long before her career took off.

“My love for Music really started when i was in high school at ohlange. the school was known for its artistic and stage theatre. and i was always such an entertainer. i took part in Most of the year end stage perforMances.”

Knowing at a young age that she wanted to do something within the entertainment industry did not make it easy for her to realise that this was what she was made to do. After high school, Dudu decided to

attend nursing school. this was completely different to the world of music and performing for crowds. Whilst Nursing at Durban’s King Edward Hospital, Ukozi FM asked Dudu Khoza to help on their medical advice raio show. Dudu agreed and was a natural on air. As she continued, the radio produces notcied that she had something special, and offered Dudu her own radio show. And that was when Lady D was ‘born’ on air. Music proved to be the better choice as today she is a South African celebrity and able to touch the hearts of our nation.

She has been reaping the rewards after all the time and effort she has put into perfecting her craft. With many achievements under her belt, we asked Lady D which achievements, accolades and career highlights stood out the most for her.

“Being honoured with a living legends award was such a huge honour Because the award was celeBrating My work on radio and in the coMMunity. it was a Balance of the two things i love so Much in terMs of My career.”

Dudu is invested in empowering communities and using her status and fame to motivate and inspire others to achieve their dreams. She uses her radio talk show to remind her listeners that they are an important part of society and reinforces the value of respect amongst people. She also helps her listeners to deal with serious issues that they phone the radio station show about. Lady D thinks of her listeners as family and treats them as such. She looks forward to spending time with them every day and relishes the opportunity to help them.

She also mentions her most recent accolade received at the 2012 MTN RADIO AWARDS. This prestigious event took place at the Sandton Convention Centre and although it has only been in existence for a mere three years, winning an MTN Radio Award is a huge honour within the industry. Lady D took home the ‘Best Daytime Presenter Award’ and was elated with winning this category award. She described winning this award as a celebration of her many years of hard work on air (radio).

This talented presenter continued to express the feeling of honour she

experienced when she met the late reggae legend, Lucky Dube. These two sensations became friends and, is a time in Dudu’s life that she holds near and dear to her heart. This truly is a highlight in Dudu Khoza’s colourful life. She has also had the pleasure of meeting and becoming friends with South Africa’s first lady, uMantuli.

Dudu recently participated in the ‘ShakeUp Fitness Challenge’ against other radio celebrities, whereby the winner would be able to donate their prize money to a charity of their choice. Being the go-getter that she is, Dudu Khoza won the challenge by losing the most amount of weight. Dudu won R15 000.00 for her charity of choice, which was MaNtuli-Zuma Foundation – our Presidents wife’s charity. Dudu is very involved with this charity because they share a common goal – to build up disadvantaged communities and individuals.

Whether she’s Dudu Khoza or Lady D, this dynamic and self motivated woman does not sit back, she gets involved and consistently gives back to the Communities around her in various ways. Even though she is an extremely busy person, family is very important to Dudu. She explains that the relationship she has with her sons, Sandile and Kwazi is built on love and respect for one another.

“My relationship with My sons is very casual yet grounded and filled with so Much respect. they know they can coMe to Me with any probleM and i won’t judge theM but will give theM sound advice whether good or bad, i tell theM what will build theM and help theM becoMe better people.”

Being a radio personality, a South African celebrity, a full time wife and mother of two, as well as an Ambassador for uplifting communities, Dudu also finds time to be part of two Stokvel Clubs. Although she finds fitting in these monthly meetings strenuous, she loves the end results, as she gets to socialise with the Stokvel Members. Dudu proves that irrespective of who you are, Stokvels are beneficial and exciting to be part of!

Banking Advice

5JUNE 2012

In most cases, the major source of financial problems is debt that may have been gained over a long period of time. An increase of multiple debt, more than likely results in

delayed repayments and in some instances complete failure to honour the commitment. It is therefore important that anyone affected by debt, contacts their bank or retailer to make an arrangement for payment, as failure to do so can affect ones credit rating. However, there are various methods and tools through which you can reduce the burden of debt. Firstly, start with combining all your debt into one and ensure you do not take out any further credit.

Instead of being tempted to spend, look for opportunities to manage the reduction of past debt.

HERE ARE SoME BASIC GUIDELInES THAT WILL HELP To GET yoU STARTED.

• BE REALISTIC ABoUT yoUR FInAnCIAL SITUATIon

Allocate dedicated time evaluating your financial situation, including the debt component. Write down your financial position – expenditure (expenses) against your monthly income. Be honest and realistic. Plan your debt management activities as part of your overall financial plan for the year ahead. Decide today that you will budget properly for the rest of the year (and onwards).

• TACkLE THE DEBT: ConSoLIDATE yoUR DEBTOne way of managing your debt is to consolidate (combine) it into a single low-interest debt obligation.

Note: do not be tempted to use that credit card or overdraft randomly once all your debt has been consolidated. A credit card statement that tells one there is a full R10, 000 available is a tempting offer to go on another spending spree. Be strong and do not fall into more debt.

• ADoPT THE PoWER PAy APPRoACHIf you cannot consolidate your debt, make a list of all debt obligations, in order of highest to lowest cost. Concentrate on paying off the most expensive debt first, i.e. debt with the highest

interest rate. Generally this would be credit cards and overdrafts. Review your entire budget and allocate as much as possible to pay off the debt in priority order. Concentrate on one debt at a time until all of your debt is paid off.

• SHARE THE RESPonSIBILITy (IF APPLICABLE) Include your partner in the decisions you make on the budget. This is especially important if there are multiple income earners. Household budget decisions, good or not so good, impact on the entire household.

• HAvE A SET oF RULES, SUCH AS A “no WASTE WEEk”Abide by certain budget behaviour rules, usually linked to a clear financial objective. For example, set aside one week every month where you will not buy anything that is not essential. Every time you have the urge to buy a non-essential item, put that money aside and then use it towards reducing the debt amount at the end of each month.

DOn’t Letget YOUDeBtDOWn

A community can be considered an extended family. Stokvel Clubs are made up of community members and supporting each other is an important part of a Club’s sustainability. Therefore, the idea of giving back to your community is a wonderful way for Stokvel Clubs to form closer bonds with each other. This winter you could start a soup kitchen, take food parcels to the elderly, paint a classroom, clean up your street or feed the children at an orphanage. You do not have to look too far to find people in need.

Here are some easy ways in wHicH to raise money to Help otHers:

Paper Plane CompetitionAll you need for this competition is paper and a large piece of card board.Find an open area such as, a field or park at which to hold this competition. The best

form of advertising is through “word of mouth” (people telling other people) and should be done from the moment the event is confirmed to ensure a good turnout. Make sure that people are aware that they will be charged a minimal fee for participating and then all the money made will be used to help the underprivileged within your community. Cut a round or square hole in the board to create a target and place it at a fair distance from your starting line. This is the target hole for the paper aeroplanes so you may like to make adjustments to the size depending on the flight distances you will be working to and the age and abilities of those competing.Decorate your board with bright colours.

Invite contestants to buy a sheet of paper out of which to make a paper aeroplane. You may have to help the younger children. Allow any design, as half the fun is that people will

have their own designs in mind. Have a few pens around too, so people can decorate and name their masterpieces. Do a countdown, 3-2-1 at which all contestants must aim their planes at the hole in the board. Any plane that flies right through wins a prize.

Host An AuctionAsk everyone your Stokvel members know and approach companies you think might wish to support your Stokvel’s initiative. Collect items that are usable but unwanted by others and build up a list of items to auction. Ensure that items are donated to your cause and that your Stokvel Club is not liable to pay for the items you receive. The idea is for you to raise money to help your community. You could try a local hardware store or restaurant to collect items people will want, such as tools. You could ask companies to sponsor restaurant vouchers. In exchange for their goods they will get

JUNE 20126

empowerment

exposure in your community and at the auction. You can also auction services and skills. Approach hairdressers or plumbers and propose what your Stokvel is trying to achieve, get them excited about giving back and ask them to get involved. Think outside of the box. In a traditional auction the price of the goods starts at a low price and rises as bidders increase the amount they are willing to pay for an item or service. Eventually the highest bid price is reached above which no-one is willing to pay more. The person who made the final highest bid now has to pay that sum and takes ownership of the item, service or voucher. Select an auctioneer (person who heads up the auction) who is lively and will get the crowd excited.

Cake SaleA good old-fashioned cake or bake sale never fails. Ask members to each bake something and chose a day on which to sell the goods. This could be done after church on Sunday or even at another community event. Greeting CardsIf the women in your group are creative, a fun way to raise funds is to make hand crafted greeting cards for all occasions. You can sell them at schools, door to door or at your church. A personal touch is a popular thing these days and could become a very successful side-line business.

RaffleSell raffle tickets at any event that you have going on. Tickets can be made at home on pieces of paper or card board and must be numbered. Get a company to donate a prize, such as kitchen appliances, food hampers or vouchers. At the end of the raffle time period, a winner is chosen from a random draw.

RecycleThe money raised for recycling plastic or metal is not always large, however creating an initiative such as this one also helps create awareness in your community. It will encourage people to live a sustainable lifestyle.

Smart Selling Think of popcorn. It does not cost much to purchase the seeds however, it goes a long way and can ensure you make money. It may even be worth investing in a popcorn machine. You could even chose to hire the machine out. Groups who might hire your machine include schools, churches and sports organisations for event days.

Sell PlantsGrow your own vegetables and herbs. Once you have accumulated a good number hold a plant sale. Make sure that you do not out price yourself when selling your plants, herbs and vegetables.

Hold A Car WashYou will need access to water so perhaps approach a specific company to access their property on a set day and offer their staff car washes – you must gain the proper authorisation for this. You could, with your own water tanks, take your car wash to big sporting events or concerts and wash cars there. Those involved will have to volunteer their services to ensure you see a profit.

The above mentioned activities can be done once a month, every second weekend or as frequent as your Stokvel Club wishes to do them. All the money collected from such events should be pooled and used to either feed homeless people and orphaned children or donated to a non-profit organisation. Either way, your community will see that your Stokvel Club cares for the community.

Stokvels develop from a culture of giving. They began as neighbour helping neighbour and continued along this path, not just helping each other but uplifting the entire community.

giVing BACKtO YOUR COMMUnitY

JUNE 2012

individual to full out in private. • This helps you to get a few different opinions which can help to make up your mind.

---------- Vote ----------• If you want to know if someone should be allowed to join the group or if a particular project should go ahead and have a simple yes or no question, you could hold a secret ballot (A process of voting, in writing and typically in secret).• Ask each member to write down their choice on a piece of paper. Fold it and put it in a box. You can count the votes for or against and rule in favour of the majority.

-------- SurVey --------• If you need community input you could do a survey. For example if you are thinking of starting up a soup kitchen in the area.• The best way of consulting the community is to go door-to-door and do proper survey where you ask everyone the same questions.

----- AdVAntAgeS of group ----- ----- deciSion mAking: ----

• Groups provide a broader perspective or view of a matter.• The group will be more likely to be happy with the final decision.

---- diSAdVAntAgeS of group ---- ---- deciSion mAking: ----

• Group decisions can take longer to come to than those made by an individual or the leader himself.• You may not always make the best decision. Groups tend to come to a compromise rather than to the best possible solution.• Sometimes one outspoken person can take over the group and cause everyone to simply agree.

The question then becomes, do you make a decision yourself, do you allow individuals to vote on their own or do you work in groups? The answer would be, It depends on the problem!!!

Lifestyle

• think through each idea• As the leader, a chairperson needs to think about the negatives and positives of each idea. consider costs and difficulty in execution.

• choose the most beneficial idea for your Stokvel group• the best idea or solution is the one with the most advantages and the fewest serious disadvantages.

• Actions need to be monitored. • people must report back to the chairperson at different stages to ensure everything goes along smoothly and as planned.

• if things do not work out, you need to figure out what went wrong and find a solution and prevention measures.

d e c i d i n g

m o n i t o r

YES?NO?

MAYBE?I T ’ S T I M E T O

D E C I D EA chairman is constantly called upon to make decisions in order to solve problems. Decision making and problem solving are ongoing processes of looking at situations or problems, considering alternatives, making choices, and following them up with actions. Sometimes the decision making process is extremely short. In other situations, the process can drag on for weeks or even months. It is important that a chairperson drives the decision making process. First by addressing the problem and then by deciding how a decision will be reached.

conSider the following StepS when

mAking A deciSion:

• What is the issue/problem? • What is standing in the way of making your decision?• What are your options?• Analyse each option • Select the best option for the entire Stokvel• Implement the decision• Establish a system to monitor and control this decision

---- define the problem ----Knowing what the issue is, is as important as solving it. Step one is therefore to clearly define the problem. Avoid spending too much time discussing “symptoms” or issues caused by the problem. A successful leader does not just attack symptoms; he works to uncover the factors that cause these symptoms. For example, if you are looking at poor municipal services in your area do not allow the discussion to be about all the trouble it has caused. Rather tackle the root of the problem, be it failure to remove waste or poor roads.

------ limitAtionS ------All leaders want to make the best decisions and Stokvels want to make a difference in

their community by helping out. But to do so you need tools, be it information, time, airtime, equipment or supplies. You might want to paint a local classroom, but there is much you will need to get it done. There will also be many decisions to be made – other than the paint colour.

------- AlternAtiVeS -------You must look at a situation carefully to come up with the best decision. Perhaps you want to hold a car wash to raise funds. You must consider all the best possible venues, where you can raise the most amount of money. You must also consider challenges, with a car wash you will have to consider water excess and availability. As a chairperson, you should think about and investigate all options before making a quick decision. You do not have to do

this alone. In fact asking the group for help promotes team work. Always have a backup plan should your original plan fail.

wAyS for your StokVel to work together:

------- brAinStorming -------This is when a group of people work together to come up with ideas and solutions. No idea is a bad one, as each idea can spark another idea from someone else. These sessions can be very productive and many great ideas can be born from them. There should be some rules for the brainstorming sessions due to many different people being involved in the process, such as:

• Concentrate on the problem at hand, this keeps conversation from turning to personal matters or other non-related issue. It helps keep the group focused.• No idea should be over looked and discarded before review. This ensures everyone is happy to speak their mind without being afraid of being laughed at. It also helps keep an open mind and allows for a fresh approach.• Do not negatively judge options – constructive criticism may be done at a later stage of the brainstorm session. • Remember that your Stokvel is trying to come up with the best idea for the benefit of the entire group. You want to keep the atmosphere positive.

------ hold A highly ------ ---- Structured meeting ----

• Call a special meeting to make a decision. • Set a clear agenda for this specific meeting, set the topic for discussion, and stick to it.• Doing this ensures you all give time and thought to the problem at hand.

- hAVe written queStionnAireS - • The chairperson can write down questions that he/she would like to be answered - in the form of a questionnaire for each

life is about making decisions. organisations and even Stokvels operate by people constantly making decisions. the leader or chairman plans, organises, leads, and controls his/her team by making decisions. the effectiveness and quality of those decisions

determine how successful he/she and the group will be.

I had the pleasure of meeting a Stokvel whom over the years has managed to keep its original members and still draw on new members.

Bambanani Stokvel has 20 members in total. The Stokvel started 20 years ago with Nana Cele, Thandi Khoza and Nhlanhla Ntetha as the founding members and the creators of the Stokvel Club. Nana explains that in the beginning the Stokvel was only for couples. “When we started the Stokvel we were all couples and we were all friends. We figured that since we all hung out together we might as well save money together,” said Nana. She recalls; “ those days were nice because the Stokvel strengthened our friendships and our bank balances.

Our way of thinking changes…Nana and Thandi say that as the years went by most of the couples that were in the Stokvel with them, broke up and some even got divorced. They then decided to change the structure of Bhambanani. “We realised that we had

to remove the ‘couples only’ restriction and start allowing other members to join. In life you have to move with the times and that is what we did.” It was difficult for us to let go of the old Bambanani Stokvel and welcome the new members and new changes to the Stokvel but we had to do it. As time went on we slowly started to enjoy the new Bambanani Stokvel.

Growth of a Legendary Stokvel…Ever since its inception the Bambanani Stokvel has grown in terms of members and the amount of money it makes at the end of the year. “We cannot really get into the exact figures but our Stokvel saves over R500 000 with some members earning at least R50 000 to R100 000 each.”

It amazes us because when we think back to the early days when a contribution would cost R20 per couple but now we contribute between R1000 to R5000 each. And if a member borrows money from our Stokvel, they are obligated to pay it back with interest. That is how we are able to earn more money at the end of the year.

What works and what does not…What has made our Stokvel work over the years is that we are a “no nonsense” kind of Stokvel. Nana is the treasurer and has been for years so she always makes sure that everything and everyone is in line. “Should there be any disputes or disagreements I sort them out immediately at our Sunday monthly meetings.”

Thandi also adds that some of the challenges that they experience within the Stokvel is that members do not always want to host their monthly meetings. “It is such a hassle because we have a rule in our Stokvel that each member is supposed to host a monthly meeting at their home, but we find many members avoiding their turn.”

Bhambanani is a savings type of Stokvel and it is very important that we secure our safety at every meeting because large amounts of money are always handled especially in December.

Along with good things in life, come bad things as well. After years of connecting and interviewing Stokvels, I realised that the existence span of those Stokvels was not very long. So I embarked on a quest to find a

Stokvel that has been around for many years and to my surprise through extensive research I found a Stokvel that has been around for over 20 years.

Learning Together

Advice to other Stokvelsthe best advise to all Stokvels out there is to be completely clear and honest with each other. we have learnt that honesty is always best in avoiding unnecessary fights and dragging out problems that could have been solved a long time ago. within any Stokvel there has to be a leader - someone who is able to take charge. that person must always be in control of his or her feelings and emotions. So that all the members respect that leader and the Stokvel is productive.

it is pleasing to see that long standing Stokvel clubs do exist and that their growth over the years is so significant. having an opportunity to meet the bhambanani Stokvel has been an absolute privilege and without them even realising it, they have taught me a lot about what it takes to make a Stokvel work.

of a long standing Stokvel

JUNE 2012

The exisTenceThe exisTence

Kwazi

Way Better

Our Stokvel has been saving for years. What happens to the interest

we accumulate at the bank?Lindi, Middleburg

It must be shared amongst the parties equally alternatively it will go

towards the cost of paying/maintaining the particular banking account. This will depend on the wishes of the members thereof. Our suggestion is that members should conclude a memorandum setting out how the bank account should be maintained.

I have been a member of a Stokvel for 3 years and can no longer afford to

continue with the monthly contributions. What happens to my money when I decide to pull out of the Stokvel?

Lizzy, East London

It would depend on the type of Stokvel you have entered into, and the answer

shall be based on the assumption that there is no written agreement governing the particular form of the Stokvel:

• Where the participants contribute money, which money shall be received by each member on a rotation basis then you should not be allowed to pull out of the Stokvel when you have received payment until such time as you have contributed to the members who have contributed to yourself. An agreement requiring reciprocal performance arises between the person pulling out of the Stokvel and those persons who have contributed

money to him once the first mentioned party receives payment.

• Where the Stokvel takes the form of a burial society, the members are not allowed to get back what they have contributed to the scheme and if a member was to pull out then they forfeit their benefits. This works similarly to an insurance policy, where persons do not get back the money which they have paid.

• In savings Stokvel where the members are to share the benefits equally at the end of a particular period, a member may pull away from the Stokvel, however shall only be able to reclaim the money which they have contributed together with the interest.

As a Stokvel Member, what happens to my contribution if I die?

Lerato, Kagiso

It really depends on the type of Stokvel that one was involved in. Some of the

stokvels are for instance entered into with the funeral in mind, like with burial societies. We will for the purpose of this question assume that there has been no agreement about what would happen in the event that a member dies.

The distributions of the benefits may for instance happen where the deceased has benefited and other people have not yet received contributions from the deceased. My advice would be that you look at the aim and

Send your questions to: ourstokvel@boxer.co.za, or

P.O. Box 370, Westville, 3630

12 JUNE 2012

Stokvel AdviceStokvel Advice

collective purpose of entering into a Stokvel. Usually when a person dies the executor of their estate assumes the responsibility of paying the debts of the deceased and collecting all the monies owed to the deceased. Where monies are owed by the deceased, one would then have to approach the executor of the estate, for the monies that the deceased benefited from without having paid in proportion to the value that they have received. The converse also applies, where the family of the deceased is aware of monies that were due to the deceased then a claim may be lodged by the executor of the deceased estate to the chairperson of the Stokvel to have the money paid out to the deceased estate.

In the event that has been no executor appointed to administer the deceased’s estate, the family member who has been appointed to attend to finalisation of the affairs of the deceased maybe then approached by the members of the Stokvel or may approach the members of the Stokvel him/herself where there is a claim against that Stokvel.

Ntombi MphahleleClaims Handler and Legal Advisor

to the Stokvel Social Trust.

STOKVEL SOCIAL TRUST OFFERS FREE ADVICE AND DRAFTING SERVICES TO HELP

STOKVELS WITH PROPER CONSTITUTION DOCUMENTS.

PLEASE VISIT US VIA ANY OF THE FOLLOWING OPTIONS:

0860 345 600 | www.mystokvel.mobi | www.mystokvel

BUILDING A STRONG AND RESPONSIVE STOKVEL CLUB

YOUR STOKVEL QUESTIONSANSWERED WITHNTOMBI MPHAHLELE

Stokvels are by definition self-help groups and exist to provide social and economic support to their members. Approached correctly and managed well they can make a significant difference to their members and communities around them. However, approached incorrectly or with the wrong attitude and motives, Stokvels may deliver terrible results. This article is aimed at guiding Stokvels on the best practices with regards to successful Stokvels. Some ground rules and common sense is essential when a Stokvel is formed or when an existing Stokvel needs to grow:

GROUND RULES

Members Need A Good Relationship

Stokvels are about personal trust and social solidarity with the people you know well. The relation could be based on friendship or a number of circumstances such as attending the same Church, working together, living in the same neighbourhood, or even being family members. It is this relation that creates a bond of trust and comfort. Without this bond of trust, most Stokvels get into trouble and break up without realising their objectives and in many instances with long-term negative impact to the individual members.

Members Must Sare A Common Goal

Stokvels allow people to achieve things together that they could otherwise not achieve on their own. The commitment made by individual members to each other gives a sense of purpose. It is this sense of purpose and social commitment to each other that will drive the Stokvel to realise and achieve its objectives. There is no room for selfish and self-centred behaviour in a Stokvel that is heading for success. Their common purpose is the basis of their Stokvel membership. Supporting each other through difficult

times will come naturally if the bond of common purpose and social solidarity is entrenched in the culture of the Stokvel.

Leadership & Accountability Is Vital

Every Stokvel has to be led to success as nothing happens by chance. Most Stokvels succeed or fail largely due to the type of people who are responsible for leading the Stokvel. Good leadership is likely to lead to success. Bad leadership almost guarantees disaster and failure. Successful Stokvels can be identified even before they succeed by the type of leadership they have. Generally a Stokvel will have a Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer. It is important that the nomination and election of such members is carefully considered as it can spell the difference between good leadership and failure.

To demonstrate the importance of the above Ground Rules, the Stokvel Social Trust recently had some interesting group and individual conversations with Stokvels and their members. The following Conversation with Elizabeth Mnisi (not her real name) highlights the pitfalls of not following the above ground rules:

Elizabeth (Lizzy) believes that Stokvels alleviate poverty within the community by allowing for informal savings and community burials. In as much as Lizzy appreciates the social and economic impact of Stokvels, the conversation focused mostly on the bad experiences she encountered having been a member of a number of Stokvels over many years. This is what she had to say:

On The Bad Experiences

A lot of the time when the Stokvel starts there is a lot of planning, the people are excited, goals are set and the atmosphere seems promising. You meet, put money aside and a meeting date is set. A problem

arrises when a Stokvel is not registered and there is no leadership. The members have not formulated a constitution so really there is a lack of accountability. Only one single person has access to the account, and that person responsible for the money disappears or misuses some of the money.

On A Possible Solution

Stokvels have a lot of potential, but due to the informal way they are run, they do not have long term benefits, and you end up putting more in than what you receive back. If institutions like Stokvel Social Trust can assist and or provide support to Stokvels I believe that more and more people will be comfortable joining Stokvels and will be empowered.

Lizzy’s interview has raised a lot of important issues that we believe most of our readers are faced with. The nature and beauty of Stokvels is that they encourage savings, something former finance minister Trevor Manuel always emphasised. Stokvel accounts encourage a saving culture and instils discipline. In Stokvels, people chat and know about each other’s lives, they are about more than just money. It is about coming together. This is the kind of culture that we want to promote, therefore the growth of the Stokvel market is not just good for the members involved, but South Africa as a whole. It is with this in mind that we encourage you to exercise common sense and observe the Ground Rules emphasised in this article.

Call: 0860 345 600Check: www.mystokvel.mobi Visit: www.mystokvel

STOKVEL SOCIAL TRUST offers free services and

benefits to affiliated Stokvels.

In African tradition ancestors play a central role in all

ritual practices. It will therefore be important to understand the places that are regarded as sacred as all rituals are performed in these sacred places. Though there are several sacred places like natural forests, some pools in certain rivers, some mountains; the home is the main sacred place and the major activities take place at home. Within the home, which in normal circumstances consists of huts or a house, there must be a kraal which is either made up of wood or stones. Animals sacrificed for specific rituals are slaughtered in a cattle kraal. Even in cities, where municipal by-laws forbid permanent kraals, during ritual performances, members of the family construct temporal enclosures to represent a kraal. This structure will be made up of branches before ritual performance and will be destroyed at the end of a ritual. There are some areas within the cattle kraal which are regarded as more charged with ancestors, like the entrance called ixhanti; and a place opposite the entrance which is called Umthonyama.

The cattle kraal entrance is regarded as very important in African tradition as it is believed to be highly charged with the presence of ancestors. It is at this place that the elderly always go to talk to ancestors when they experience a problem related to ancestors or when there is a feeling of communicational breakdown between individuals and ancestors. Also during ritual performances when entering the kraal, the elderly must first stop at the cattle kraal entrance and speak to the ancestors explaining the purpose of the ritual. Entering the kraal during such occasions an individual must take off the shoes and must make sure that he/she is ritually cleansed as the space is believed to be holy. The horns of the ox that has been slaughtered for a ritual are nailed into the poles of an ixhanti.

When there is a problem affecting the family which needs appeasement without slaughtering an animal, the elderly would go to exhantini (to the cattle kraal entrance) to humbly request for the ancestors to act immediately in favor of the affected individual.

From the entrance, the kraal is divided into two sides which determine where the male members of the clan and those of the community sit. On the right hand side from the entrance (ixhanti), clan members sit according to seniority, while on the left side are community members, also according to seniority by birth and initiation. In Xhosa tradition, Izilimela, the years of adulthood since initiation, determine the seniority of most amaXhosa males. The eldest sit first from the entrance and others follow towards the back. The young initiated males sit at the back. The same arrangement occurs with the members of the community; oldest from the entrance and others follow towards the back.

It is also within the kraal that final ritual activities are performed. The bones of the animals slaughtered during ritual performance are burnt inside the kraal to mark the end of the ritual.

Cultural Advice

Send your questions to: ourstokvel@boxer.co.za, or

P.O. Box 561, Pinetown, 3600 and Dr. Mndende will answer your questions!

OF A CATTLE KRAALTHE significancE

JUNE 2012

B R A N D F E AT U R E

Red fruit nutrients: Which brighten the skin and prevent new dark marks from forming

Pro-Vitamin B3: Which evens out existing dark marks

What yourcustomer wants The variant to use

Even toned, shine free skin.

Even toned skin with superior oil control.

Even toned, moisturised and nourished skin.

Even toned, blemishfree skin.

NORMAL TO OILYOil catchers help to absorb oil from the skin.

VERY OILYActive micro-sponges help to absorb excess oil from the skin.

NORMAL TO DRYGlycerin helps to moisturise and nourish the skin.

ANTI-MARKSAlpha Hydroxy Acid helps to exfoliate the skin.

Beautiful skin for all!Your favourite POND’S Perfect Colour Com-plex range is now available in convenient, re-sealable sachets! Achieving an even tone skin with a beautiful glow has never been easier! From just R5, each sachet offers up to 15 applications of the same quality cream your customers know and love from POND’S.

Quality you can always trustThe POND’S INSTITUTE has combined two powerful ingredi-ents in the POND’S Perfect Colour Complex beauty creams to help reduce dullness and brighten the skin.

Having even toned skin is as easy as 1 + 2!POND’S Perfect Colour Complex has a complete beauty regime for your customers:

› Cleanse: The Perfect Colour Complex facial foam washes away old and dull skin cells to reduce dullness and brighten the skin

› Moisturise: There is a Perfect Colour Complex beauty cream for all skin types:

Also available in:100W BC - 1142063

100W ES1142064

Also available in:60W ES - 1142066

60W BC1142065

Also available in:40W BC - 1142067

40W ES1142068

Also available in:ESL 20W ES CDL

1142113

ESL 20W BC CDL1142112

Also available in:ESL 15W BC CDL

1142015

ESL 15W ES CDL1142014

Also available in:ESL 11W ES CDL

1142005ESL 11W ES WW

1142022ESL 11W BC WW

1142023

ESL 11W BC CDL1142003

Also available in:40W Frosted Candle BC

1142154

40W Frosted Candle ES

1142153Also available in:

40W Clear Candle ES 1142150

40W Clear Candle BC

1142151

ESL T2 8W M-Spiral BC WW

1142119

Up to 75% saving in energy - Higher lumen efficiency = Energy conversion to light rather than heat

Wastage of energy as heat rather than light - 90% is wasted as heat and only 10% is converted to light

Lasts 5 to 8 times longer than Incandescent lamps

Available in various colour temperatures - Cool Daylight, Warm White & Cool White

It can give only warm light - no cool options

Initial cost is high Cheaper to replace

Limited options available on dimmable CFL’s Dimmable – with reduced voltages

Discrete spectrum - only some colours are truly represented Continuous spectrum of light - uniform representation of various colours. High colour rendering index - close to natural light.

Promotes conservation of resources through reduced use of oil, coal & gas in power generation

Wastes natural resources in power generation through poor energyefficiency

Brightness Power Consumption

Lamp Life8000 hrs

Eveready was established in 1937. Our factory and head office is based in Port Elizabeth and branches are situated in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban.

In August 2004 Eveready diversified into the lighting market by launching Incandescent globes in the South African market. The products were extremely well received by consumers for its quality, performance and value. This encouraged Eveready to launch a range of Compact Fluorescent Lamps (Energy Saver Lamps) in August 2006.

All products are in line with stringent international standards and provide excellent value to the consumer.

COMPACT FLUORESCENT LAMPS (Energy Saver Lamps) INCANDESCENT LAMPS

Also available in:ESL T2 8W M - Spiral ES WW

1142120

Boxer Matters

19JUNE 2011

Boxer Matters

The Boxer Superstores Youth Leadership Programme has been in existence for 10 years now and has grown from strength to strength. And the youth that have been lucky enough to experience what this type of programme offers each year are better people for it. A little over 2400 entries were received for the Boxer Superstores Youth Leadership Programme this year alone, and the large number made it extremely difficult for Boxer Superstores to select just 45 winners from all the entries. But the choice had to be made and the 45 lucky scholars who emerged as the cream of the crop were whisked off to beautiful KwaZulu-Natal. These scholars spent 5 exciting, educational and inspiring days at the Suela Zimbili Adventure Centre in Zinkwazi. The Boxer Superstores Youth Leadership Programme is an opportunity for young adults to realise their potential and embrace their abilities. It teaches youth that they can achieve their dreams through positive thinking and

with a good attitude. This amazing programme also teaches lifeskills through discussions and team building exercises. The Adventure Centre, equipped with trained facilitators, is focused on building one’s character and teaching youngsters to overcome difficulties in life, all whilst having a great deal of fun! With 2012 hosting the 10th Annual Youth Leadership Programme, Boxer Superstores paired up with two of their trusted suppliers, MTN and Nedbank to put together the best camp yet. The scholars participated in tons of activities such as abseiling and hiking, to name a few, and the photographs on this page depict the enjoyment received from the activites. They were also able to get involved in discussions on topics effecting society, thus allowing them to speak their mind and form their own ideas and opinions. This programme is all in all a way for Boxer Superstores to add more value to the lives of tomorrow’s leaders. And this is a youth development programme that is very well received by communities at large.

Youth Leadership programme CeLebrates 10 Years of suCCess

Opinion

When most of us think about attending meetings, we envision them to be boring and structured. This results in us not wanting to attend meetings and if forced to, we are uninterested and cannot wait for it to end.

What is the aim of your stokvel Club?To have enough food during the festive season and while schools are closed. It also helps to get ready for back to school in January.

Was your stokvel Constitution developed and agreed upon by all members, tell us about some of the main and most important points that members must folloW?Yes, it was developed and agreed upon by all members. No late payments are allowed. If this occurs, the member will have to pay a penalty.

When and hoW often do your members meet?We meet once every month after pension payouts.If a member decides to leave the club then we have an emergency meeting.

your stokvel Club is registered With boxer superstores, What are some of the advantages?Yes, registered but were not clear about advantages.

What Challenges do you faCe?We sometimes face issues with transport.

hoW do you as a stokvel Club overCome ConfliCt should it arise?We are lucky that we have not had any conflicts thus far. If we do, then we will look to the constitution for guidance.

What do you think makes your stokvel Club different from the others?We always seem to have a lot more food compared to others, and of high quality brands.

What are some of the important faCtors that influenCe the smooth running of your stokvel Club?We respect each other and share in common goals and experiences.

What matters are disCussed in your monthly meeting?We review the payments as well as our policy and enjoy the time we have together.

20 JUNE 2012

Catch Up With

stokvel Club name: siyakhula Club

Meetings do not have to be boring and dull. You can make your Stokvel meetings productive, fun and memorable by introducing small and different ideas into them. The venue of Stokvel monthly meetings usually has a rotational schedule between members. It could start at the chairman’s house and the next month move to the treasurer’s house.

When it’s your turn to host your Stokvel’s monthly meeting, you can make it memorable and fun by doing any of the following:

• Send all your members a sms a few days before the meeting, telling them how excited you are about having them over. This creates a sense of excitement and your fellow Stokvel members will look forward to the meeting.

• On the day of the meeting, ensure that the area in which your Stokvel members will be seated is comfortable enough for everyone and that the chairs are placed in a circle or around a table – this allows for everyone to be in direct contact with each other and promotes open communication.

• Warmly welcome each member as they enter your home and assist them to their seats – this makes everyone feel

welcomed and sets a friendly tone for the meeting ahead.

• If your Stokvel budgets for catering during your monthly meetings – make sure that you provide snacks or meals that everyone likes. Consider everyone’s likes and dislikes and then prepare a menu.

• Think of your meeting as a social gathering instead of just a ‘boring monthly meeting’ You could start the meeting by doing a ‘catch up’ session – this is when each member talks about what they have been doing in the last month. By doing this, every member becomes more relaxed and comfortable.

• Thereafter, get into your financial reviews and the usual agenda of your monthly meeting.

• Once done, share a meal or the snacks prepared together and use that time to bond with other members.

• As your Stokvel members leave, thank them for attending and tell them that you had a lovely meeting with each of them. Express your excitement for the next meeting.

If your Stokvel finds itself in conflict and members begin to argue, the best thing

would be to stop the meeting for a few moments. Get everyone to write down their feelings and opinions onto a piece of paper without writing their names on the page. Then one person should read each suggestion out loud and you will be able to clearly hear how many people are in agreement and how many are not. This will assist in holding a fair vote and coming to a decision. A Stokvel Club is more than just a savings club or sorts, it is a way to socialise and find support.

Making Your StokvelMonthly Meetings Memorable

Stokvel Type: groCerY | Number of Members: 12 | Contribution: r200.00 | Existence: 4 Years

Stokvel Café

THE STOKVEL Café

There are Stokvels who over the years have changed the way they run and have added a modern touch whilst some Stokvels choose to remain traditional. I decided to interview two very different Stokvels who represent past and present times in life, thus making them traditional and modern.

On the road to Ladysmith, it suddenly dawned on me that I was no longer in a bright urban city but my car and I had found ourselves in the dusty rural small town of emNambithi.

I gladly interview a group of women called ‘Amajukujuku’ who have made a huge name for themselves on Ukhozi FM. They have been together as both a Stokvel Club and as a cultural group for many years. I met up with the woman in charge of Amajukujuku uMamahaye for a talk and a traditional meal that brought me closer to my roots.

How DID AmAjukujuku STokVEL comE InTo ExISTAncE? We live in such a small rural area that we all as women knew each other. So when some of the women were experiencing financial difficulties we would help each other out and put money together in order to help one another. It was then that I decided to start a Stokvel for us.

DID THE oTHEr womEn SupporT your DEcISIon To STArT A STokVEL? Yes most definitely. They understood that a Stokvel would enable them to have a bit more money than usual. Another thing is that, most of us do not work and so we rely

on our grant money or pension to contribute towards the Stokvel because the little we do save will turn into something bigger when it is our turn to receive the money.

How mAny mEmbErS ArE THErE In your STokVEL? In total we have 35 members, including myself.

How DoES your STokVEL work? Although we are a large number of women, they respect me as their leader. Every month we all contribute R100 towards the Stokvel. We divide the total money from all of us then we have a list of people that will be receiving the money for that month. Usually there are 5 members that receive money each month. A member has the chance to decide whether they want to receive money or groceries when it’s their turn. It works out perfectly because we live in the rural areas and have the same basic needs.

AnD How Do you mAnAgE To orgAnISE your EnD of yEAr STokVEL pArTy? Amajukujuku Stokvel became a cultural brand as well and with the support of Ukhozi FM we do get some donations that help us organise our year end party. Having this help is always so nice because that is when we all meet up and the tent is always full and big of course. When the time comes, we do our shopping at our nearest Boxer Superstores because around that time Boxer has incredible prices, especially for Stokvels. Then we prepare and cook up a storm and make sure that each member receives a gift at the end of the party.

wHAT ArE your pLAnS for THE AmAjukujuku STokVEL? I would just love to see us become one of the biggest and most respected rural Stokvels ever in the history of Stokvels. We really are like one big happy family. For me it’s not about the money as such but it is about the bond I share with all these women, who I know will be there when I need support or any kind of help. Some things in life cannot be bought and can only be treasured and nurtured over time.

I then made my way to the township of Umlazi to speak to a modern ‘two ladies only’ member Stokvel to find out just how they make it work. In my years of exploring and learning about Stokvels I have never heard about a two member Stokvel Club and it was interesting for me to find out more about this. Sitting in one of Umlazi’s quietest spots, I chatted to Ntobe Mkhungo and Zakhona Mgobhozi about their Stokvel.

LADIES How DID your STokVEL comE AbouT? Well we have been friends since 2008. Over the years our friendship grew stronger. We shared our personal stories with each other and every time we went out we would not have enough money or we would always be broke. Along with two other friends we started a Stokvel. In the beginning it was the 4 of us but we had a fallout with the other 2 friends so we decided to keep it between the 2 of us and not bring in any new members.

wHAT DID THAT ExpErIEncE of LoSIng THE 2 oTHEr mEmbErS TEAcH you boTH? It taught us both to value and respect each other. We realised that we did not want any

In life there comes a time when change is good. It refreshes the mind and boosts self confidence. With Stokvels, however, sometimes the saying “If it ain’t broken, don’t fix it” applies.

22 JUNE 2012

VS. moDErnmore hassles and drama and the way forward for us was to just continue with our Stokvel even though it is just the two of us.

How DoES your STokVEL work? Every month we give each other R1000, this happens on a rotational base. The R1000 received really helps because we can do so much with it like paying our children’s school fees, use some of that money for petrol, stock up on groceries to last a few months or save the money.

wHAT IS THE gooD AnD bAD of bEIng In A STokVEL LIkE THIS? The good part is that you get money coming your way more often in a year whereas if you were in a Stokvel filled with many members you would only get money once in a year. The bad part is that the money you get is lower than the money you would get if there were many members. Since the drop of members we have felt the crunch but we prefer it this way because we have such piece of mind.

How So?Well we hardly ever fight or disagree about Stokvel matters. We both know and understand our responsibilities. If there are more members there is generally a disagreement or some kind of fighting going on which is always emotionally draining. We both decided early on this year that we do not need unnecessary stress in our lives.

wHAT ArE your fuTurE pLAnS? We just want to remain the best of friends and to be in control of our finances through the use of our Stokvel. The Stokvel has really helped us budget well at the end of every month and also helped us save a bit more which was something we never use to do.

In Conclusion... Its past midnight and I am sitting in front of my laptop with a cup of coffee trying to understand these completely different Stokvel traditions. I think I speak for all of us when I say that it is important to fully understand the differences and similarities between both types of Stokvels.

Different TimesThe Stokvels of today are vastly different as they contribute more money and they use forms of electronic transfers such as banks to give money to other members. Whilst the traditional Stokvels use old methods of hiding the money with contributions being quite low.

Similarities What I love about both the traditional and modern Stokvels, that I interviewed, is that they both share a common understanding of each other. All the members have such strong bonds that cannot be broken. It amazes me that both these Stokvels are so unusual but the methods they use works for them. Every year these Stokvels survive and make money doing so. Which of course is the foundation that builds many Stokvels and keeps them together.

VS.

I find myself knowing so much about American, British and artists from all over the world. No doubt the blame can be placed partly on the fact that I grew up in a time when I was not exposed to much South African music or South African music history. I believe that post 1994, there

still has not been much effort to improve that.

Music

“OUT ON THE STREETS” WITH RJ BENJAMINGoing behind the scenes of the music industry and talking to our favourite artists.

Music

You would be considered by many in the music business as a veteran in the SA music industry. What has been your key to your longevity?Passion, a fighting spirit and wanting to excel and be a front runner in what I do. You started off your career with one of the most successful hiphop group SA has ever produced. How did Skwatta Kamp succeed where many have failed?We were unified with a common goal but I think the secret to it all was just doing what we wanted to, no matter who said what, we did not play by the rules so there were no barriers for us. Learning from others and having a willingness to listen was essential in succeeding. In such a big group like Skwatta Kamp, you always stood out for me. Did each member make a concerted effort to create a unique character in the group?I think I was just easy to spot, big built, glasses and dreads, you could not miss me among the bald headed brothers! And I always spoke in the interviews. As far as everyone striving to stand out I think we were more focused in working for the group so no particular effort was taken for each individual to shine. How did you get your alias of Shugasmakx?I had many names but I think I kept changing them because they just did not fit. When I heard them make reference to “sugar smacks” on a couple of rap songs I fell in love with the word and thought that was the perfect alias for me and I changed the spelling and made it one word. Listening to your albums, there is such a big mix of musical influences, what kind of music moved you as a young boy?Hiphop! But there was always music in my house so my ear was exposed to a lot from a young age. I could not vibe with the radio, but whenever Hammer or Heavy D came on I would be hip to it and then in 1994 I started listening to the likes of Snoop Dogg, Dr Dre etc. House music has become so dominant in SA over the past few years. Do you think there is still room for other genre’s in South Africa?House music is huge and South African’s love to dance but I feel there will always be room for other genres, all genres. People need songs that speak to their personality and emotions and because we all have different preferences, variety will always be important. What can people expect from Shugasmakx in 2012 and beyond?Just getting the new album out there, for me 2012 is all about The ShugaFactory!

SA hiphop vs. US hiphop? We fought hard for SA hiphop to be recognised and with that genre getting so much bigger internationally over the last 10 years, we have also unfortunately been exposed to an even larger amount of US hiphop. This is the fault of the broadcasters and Dj’s, I feel that now SA artists are fighting to sound even more American than before. But with that being said, a lot of the successful rappers are flying the SA flag high and I am not one to hate on US hip hop, I love it as well and I am also influenced by it but let them tell their stories and we will tell ours. That’s what is really important at the end of the day. This magazine aims to empower Stokvels. What do you think of the idea of Stokvels?Together we can achieve more, the effect of the whole is greater than that of a single component. Like minded minds coming together to work together will usually bring a more fruitful outcome. So I am all for it.

SHUgAsmakx

24 JUNE 2012

Looking abroad, the respect that the various music industries outside of South Africa place on the past masters (musical legends) is apparent. If we look at the American Grammy Awards, it is not just the annual reflection of artists that have passed

on but you can always expect a few collaborations between old and new musicians. They use their opportunities and platforms to fuse the legends of yesterday with the legends of tomorrow. Most recently American bands, Maroon 5 featuring paired up with Beach Boys. I can also recall The Jonas Brothers performing with Stevie Wonder a few years back.

South African artists, legendary or new, do not get the exposure that they deserve. Even searching on Youtube you are unlikely to find anything on South African talent, but rest assured if you are to search for a documentary on your favourite artist from abroad you will find something. This is most likely due to the fact that they know how to promote their music on social media sites better than our South African artists do. We just do not seem to have a culture of respecting our history, not just music history but history on a broader South African scale.

Personally, I think if we want to truly grow musically as a country, we have to understand how vital music was in South Africa in shaping the country we live in today. Many legends such as Miriam Makeba, Hugh Masekela, Jonas Gwanga, Letta Mbulu and Caiphus Semenya spent many years in exile, in protest to the apartheid regime. Their achievements outside of South Africa combined have probably still not been equalled by any South African artists since. Along with exposing the world to the unique sound of Southern Africa, they were vocal in their opinions and in many ways played their part in ending apartheid. Most notably Miriam Makeba’s speech to the United Nations! The image of her speaking and the way in which she delivered her speech remains an unforgettable image for many people across the globe to this day. How many South Africans can say they have seen that speech? How many South Africans even know she made that

historical speech? I believe these artists should be treated like royalty in South Africa yet, many of them are found performing more outside of South Africa then inside.

In the 1980’s, artists like Johnny Clegg and his band Juluka bravely fought on against apartheid, risking arrest and intimidation but importantly creating music that ensured the world did not forget the plight of the South African people. In Lyon, France in 1988, Johnny Clegg was so popular, Michael Jackson had to cancel a show happening on the same night. A famous article in France read “white man singing black music, out sells black man singing white music.” We have living legends right on our doorstep.

I do not know of many, if any young South Africans who would know of these artists and their amazing legacy. They were making music for reasons beyond just making people dance. They should be remembered, applauded, respected and their sacrifices in music and beyond should be taught to every child growing up in South Africa for as long as our democracy lives on.

Respecting

SA MuSicthe elders of

23808_McCain Stir Fry Print Ad (275x210).indd 1 2012/05/21 12:37 PM

27JUNE 2012

About You

South African 2012 Winter Trend is focused on rich, deep colours and fabrics that are easy to move in. Velvets are back on the market in the form of warm flexible coats and suits. Navy blues, deep purples and checked fabric are all must have’s this winter. However keeping warm would be our main focus! Investing in a winter coat that is of a versatile (changeable, able to match various colours and outfits) colour is advised. You will be able to pair your winter coat with a pair of jeans and a flat pair of boots for a more casual look.

If you are going out to a formal function or to work, you could dress your outfit up by coupling your winter coat with a formal pants or a ¾ skirt paired with closed high heel shoes or boots.

Another fun and colourful way to stay trendy, comfortable and warm this winter is to get different colours or patterned scarves and wear them with solid dark coloured outfits. By doing this, you will be able to change a plain and normal outfit into a fun and colourful one.

You can set your own fashion trends. Find a style of dressing that you like and feel that you wear well and go for it.

Everyone wants to be fashionable and that can sometimes be difficult as fashion trends change every season. Keeping up with fashion trends sounds expensive but does not need to be. Let’s take a look at some of 2012’s winter fashion trends and find inexpensive ways to match them….

28 JUNE 2012

Health

FEEliNg BETTERThis WINTERWith the busy lives we have, getting sick is the last thing that any of us need. Therefore, as winter sets in, we dress warmly and change our daily habits. The cold season brings with it a higher infection rate of the common cold and the

flu. Many people fall victim to these illnesses and for some, the illness can become very serious if not treated.

Taking care of your health should be your first priority however doctor visits, prescription medication and even some over the counter medication can cause an unexpected expense. Ensuring you stay healthy this

winter does not have to be very expensive if you start treating the early symptoms of a common cold or flu. You can do this by using inexpensive home remedies as a starting point.

What are the symptoms of the common cold?• Congestion - stuffy or runny nose, sneezing, head feels heavy.• Watery Eyes - eyes fill up with tears constantly.• Itching in Nose, Throat or Eyes• Feeling Tired• Fever • Cough

What are the symptoms of flu?• Fever and Chills • Exhaustion (feeling of complete tiredness)• Body pains• Congestion• Headaches• Coughing

If you begIn sufferIng WIth any of the above symptoms you should ensure that you take extra care of yourself by:• Drinking plenty of fluids (water and fresh juices – at room temperature and not straight out of the fridge) will help prevent dehydration and relieve congestion. Avoid drinking carbonated (fizzy) drinks and drinks with high levels of caffeine in them.• If your congestion is very bad, hold your head over a pot of steaming hot water. The steam will help clear your nasal passage. Breathe in slowly with your eyes closed until you find it easier to inhale and exhale.• If you have a runny nose, blow your nose as often as needed. Do not hold the mucus back as that will add to the congestion and will

eventually result in other illnesses. Gently press a finger over one nostril while you blow into a tissue to clear the other.• Ensure that you are dressed warmly and get plenty of rest.• If you are battling with a sore throat, gargle with warm salt water. This will provide temporary relief but is very effective.• If you have trouble sleeping at night due to congestion, try having a hot cup of tea with a teaspoon of honey mixed into it.• Taking ‘over the counter’ or non-prescription pain medication for headaches and body pains are fine, just make sure that you purchase meds that do not contain codeine.• Vicks vapour rub is an age old flu and cold fighter used by parents (only for use on children older than 2years of age). It is another effective way to relieve congestion. A small amount can be applied to one’s chest, back and around their nasal passage for easier breathing. After trying the above suggestions, you should find some level of relief from your cold and flu symptoms. If you are not feeling better after treating your symptoms and taking some over the counter medication, consulting your general practitioner (doctor) would be the best advice.

Why are We more lIkely to get sIck In WInter over other seasons?Winter is referred to as the ‘cold season’ and that is not only because of the common cold but because the weather is generally wet with icy winds and an all round chill in the air throughout. Due to this, please tend to spend more time indoors or in confined areas. This means that people therefore are forced to come into close contact with more people than normal. As a result, our bodies are being exposed to more bacteria and viruses than before.

Our immune system (body’s defense system) has to work twice as hard to try and isolate all harmful bacteria that was inhaled and sometimes, one slips through and that’s how we get more sick in winter.

People tend to feel more tired during winter because their bodies work harder to keep warm. Therefore, dressing warm and eating the right kind of foods is very important.

Recipe

with Dudu KhozaSomething Tasty

MAIZE MEAL TREATS

30 JUNE 2012

RecipeQuiz

Mostly A’s Even though l ife has problems you are not a victim of circumstances. You always look on the bright side of a situation and find solutions to your problems. You are an easy going individual who enjoys l i fe and l ives in the moment. This can present a problem as sometimes seriousness is cal led for.

Mostly B’s You are a cautious person who takes the different options into consideration. You manage a balanced l ife by l iving carefree but by also being able to address a situation seriously, should the need arise. You display leadership qualit ies and you may find that people around you, look to you for advise.

Mostly C’sYou are most definitely a “worrywart ” (a person who raises concerns for almost everything). Although weighing your options is an intel l igent move in situations, you tend to dwel l on the possibi l i t ies that are negative instead of posit ive. This could be the result of many different reasons.

let’s Make : A Deliciously Baked homestyle Dish For Your And Your Family. Catch Lady D’s show

on Ukhozi FM, Monday - Friday

mornings, from 9:00 to 12:00.

HOW HAppY ARE YOU WITH YOUR LIfE? TAKE THIS QUIcK QUIZ TO fIND OUT HOW HAppY YOU REALLY ARE…

I AM CoNSIDErED BY oTHErS To BE SErIoUS.a. Rarelyb. Sometimesc. Often

I WorrY ABoUT MY HoME WHEN I AM AWAY.a. Rarelyb. Sometimesc. Often

I HAvE TroUBLE FALLINg ASLEEp.a. Rarelyb. Sometimesc. Often

WHEN SoMEoNE IS ANgrY WITH ME, I WorrY ABoUT IT For A LoNg TIME.a. Rarelyb. Sometimesc. Often

oTHErS THINK I AM ovErLY CoNSCIENTIoUS IN THE THINgS I Do. a. Rarelyb. Sometimesc. Often

I DWELL UpoN MY DUTIES AT WorK or HoME WHEN oN HoLIDAY.a. Rarelyb. Sometimesc. Often

WHEN I MAKE A MISTAKE IT UpSETS ME A LoT.a. Rarelyb. Sometimesc. Often

WHEN SoMEoNE IS ‘UNFrIENDLY’ To ME, I WorrY THAT I HAvE oFFENDED THEMa. Rarelyb. Sometimesc. Often

WHEN I LEAvE HoME, I QUICKLY rETUrN To MAKE SUrE THE Door IS LoCKED, THE STovE IS oFF, ETC.a. Rarelyb. Sometimesc. Often

I HAvE HAD BIg CHANgES IN MY EATINg HABITS.a. Rarelyb. Sometimesc. Often

WHEN AroUND STrANgErS, I WorrY THAT I AM NoT gooD ENoUgH.a. Rarelyb. Sometimesc. Often

WHEN I go To THE DoCTor, I WorrY WHAT THE DoCTor MIgHT FIND ILLNESS.a. Rarelyb. Sometimesc. Often

1. 7.

2. 8.

3.9.

4.

10.

5.

11.

6.

12.

WHAt DoEs tHIs MEAN FoR yoU:

Do yoUWORRYtoo MUCH?

INgREDIENTS:• 180 grams margarine, or butter• 180 grams sugar • 1 extra large egg• 1 tsp vanilla extract• 190 grams self raising flour• 125 grams Shibobo Maize Meal• 1 tbsp brown sugar, for topping

METHOD:• Preheat oven to 180°C• Beat margarine and sugar together until light and fluffy• Add egg and vanilla and beat well• In a separate bowl, combine flour, maize meal, salt and baking powder• Slowly add dry ingredients to margarine mixture and mix well• Drop spoonfuls of dough onto greased baking sheet and sprinkle with a little sugar• Bake for 15 minutes

competition

Name: Contact Number:

postal Address:

Stokvel Name:

How many members are there in your Stokvel? How long has this Stokvel been together?

Recommend a Stokvel that would like to be a part of the ‘Our Stokvel’ family and receive this Magazine fREE!

Stokvel Name: Contact Number:

postal Address:

By filling in this form you can win a R500 BOXER gIfT cARD!

32 April 2012

Fill in the entry form below and if your entry is drawn, you will receive your R500 Boxer Gift Card that can be used at any

BoxeR SupeRStoReS, Nationwide.

A R500 BoxeR GIFt CARD CouLD Be YouRS!!

Fill in the details below and your Stokvel could stand a chance to win a R500 BoXER GIFt CARD.Entries to be sent to: ‘Our Stokvel’ Magazine, p.o. Box 370, Westville, 3630. Competition closes: 31st of July 2012.

With naturallyglowing skin.

Feel your m� tbeauti� l every day.

TM

Enriched with glycerine tomo� tur� e from deep within.