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Board chairperson Ilan Lax talks about his 16 years with SaveAct
How did you first get involved with SaveAct and what was your role at the start? Anton* came to see me for legal advice about setting up an entity. I helped him define the aims and objectives of the trust and put in place the trust deed. He asked me to be a trustee...
KZN woman builds thriving rental business
At the age of 63, Nontsindiso Thutshini is the proud owner of five rental properties. She achieved this impressive feat by saving diligently for the past five years. Thutshini says the impact of joining a savings group in 2016 has been huge. An older single mother who...
Young farmer creates his own opportunities
A lack of opportunities pushed Siviwe Sulani to decide to start a business. He had land and some capital that he knew he could source from a savings group. Sulani (27) lives in a village near Matatiele, Eastern Cape with his parents and three siblings. He joined the...
Savings group lending facility saves business from Covid
Like so many entrepreneurs, Nomagugu Mfedu’s business took a knock because of Covid 19 last year. In 2019 this small-scale farmer from Highland, Bizana was raising broilers which she sold in the community and in town. Business was going well and she was making R5000...
Young mum with a plan strides forward
The death of Nompilo Mazibuko’s grandmother in late 2019 was a severe blow. Her gran had supported Mazibuko (27) financially and emotionally and life has been hard for the past three years. Little did she know at the time, however, that things were going to change for...
No place like home
Nonvula Kunene was an unemployed single mother of three when she set about building a home where she could live with her children. Until then, they had been living in eZiqwaqweni near Eshowe with her father, stepmother and niece, but space was cramped. Her father gave...
Dreaming big with chickens
A burning desire to take charge of his finances led Langalakhe Ronald Made to launch a poultry business. “I had a dream of changing my personal and family trends on how to make my income,” he said. “I had for several years worked as an employee and it was not helping...
A new life after Covid job losses
Alice Nhlapo worked as a domestic throughout her life. Things were not easy for this resident of Sharpeville, Gauteng, and the salary that she received from her employer was not enough to sustain her family. She decided to work for two employers to increase her income...
Resilience in a broken mining town
The small town of Nababeep was already on the ropes when Covid hit and the impact was brutal, although not for everyone. I didn’t grow up with night-time fables read by my parents. I didn’t grow up with “héply eva after”. My mom was far too busy surviving, raising...
Ten kids, no house — no problem!
A lesser woman might have been defeated by being chased out of her home by an abusive husband and left to fend for herself and ten children. But when it comes to single-parenting, Mam Kholeka Radebe (50) is “Imbokodo” (a rock). She rolled up her sleeves and has been...
Savings boost woman’s furniture business
When Bongekile Sishi started working at a pawn shop several years ago, she had no inkling that she would end up running her own successful business, manufacturing and upholstering furniture. A can-do attitude helped to get her there. Sishi (43) explains that when the...
Getting to grips with gender realities
NATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY AND SAVEACT These are extraordinary times for women in South Africa. Covid-19 and the economic crisis have compounded the challenges that women face. It is apt that at least two new initiatives by SaveAct should help its women members to develop...
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