Food inflation is reshaping how South African families save, and stokvels are feeling the pressure firsthand. Across the country, traditional grocery stokvels — once a reliable tool to stretch savings — are struggling to keep up with soaring prices. In a recent SABC interview, this growing crisis came into sharp focus.
SABC’s Sakina Kamwendo hosted a segment highlighting this issue with reporter Tabang Morutloa, who visited Mahikeng in the North West to speak with stokvel members on the ground. Blessing Matlhabe, one such member, shared a sobering reality:
“We are now working for food… and we must have food because it’s a basic need,” she said. “Some of the things we used to buy, we cut due to high costs. Even the discounts don’t help much anymore.”
When asked whether stokvels were still making a difference, she responded:
“To be honest, it’s very discouraging… this stokvel used to help, but now it’s getting too much because of the cost of living.”
Another member, speaking in Setswana, added:
“Our stokvel is good, we buy food in bulk — but it’s expensive. You go to buy one thing and come back with something else because prices are so high. Still, the stokvel helps us save through the year, then in December we buy groceries that last until around March. But now things are expensive.”
You can watch the full interview on SABC here:
SABC Interview: Stokvels feeling the pinch of price hikes
The Reality Behind the Struggle
Traditional stokvels were not designed to adapt to rapid inflation. Even with disciplined saving, members are often shocked at how much less they receive for their money by the end of the year. This is where innovation is needed — and Yeli is stepping in with a better way to save.
With food inflation affecting stokvels so much, we understand the pain of seeing R3,000 in contributions only cover R2,000 worth of groceries. That’s why we negotiate group prices and give value back to members — not just in groceries, but in clarity and control.
How Yeli Beats Food Inflation Affecting Stokvels
At Yeli, we’ve built a dedicated grocery stokvel system to address these very issues. We’re not here to replace traditional stokvels, but to enhance and modernise them so that members get real value for their savings.
Here’s how we’re doing it:
Contribution Tracking
You always know what you’ve paid, and what you’ll receive. We provide clear invoices and monthly statements.
Inflation-Aware Planning
We lock in prices and negotiate bulk deals with suppliers, protecting your savings from inflation shocks at the end of the year.
Flexible Group & Individual Options
Whether you’re saving alone, with your family, or with a group, Yeli gives you control and transparency every step of the way.
Easy Sign-up and Support
Join online or through WhatsApp, and get friendly support throughout your savings journey.
Our Ecosystem of Grocery Solutions
Yeli isn’t just a stokvel platform — we’ve designed a full grocery ecosystem to meet the real needs of families, small businesses, and communities. Whether you’re saving, stocking up, or supplying others, we have a tailored service for you:
- Yeli Stokvels: Save monthly for December groceries and get value-guaranteed packages with clarity and control.
- Gazata Groza: Once-off bulk buying groups that let everyday people vote, contribute, and save on essentials.
- Bulk4Spaza: Affordable, consistent bulk grocery supply for spaza shops — we negotiate so they don’t have to.
- Office Pantry: Monthly grocery and cleaning supplies for offices, schools, and NGOs — easy, reliable, and delivered.
- Yeli Express: Quick online purchases of essential groceries, perfect for filling the gap between big shops.
- Yeli Workforce: A reliable grocery support system for workers and contractors, offering tailored monthly packages for organisations looking to stabilise food security among staff.
The system is centered around ValueFinder™, which meticulously curates a range of top-quality groceries sourced from renowned local stores. We secure unbeatable deals and preferred pricing, ensuring our members access the best value. Our strategic network grants members a seamless shopping experience while enjoying quality products from stores they know and trust.
Final Thoughts
Stokvels are a powerful savings tool — but they need to evolve. Yeli exists to support that evolution with innovation, transparency, and genuine care for how South Africans buy their food.
If you’ve felt the pinch, you’re not alone. Let’s help your money go further. Visit www.yeli.co.za to learn more or sign up.