It’s About Wealth & Wisdom! society • makgorla • club • mgalelwanoIssue 14

July-August 2013

INSPIRATION:From selling second-hand

clothes to an award winning tomato farmer

SIS BUSI: WOMEN ARE CAPTAINS OF THE ECONOMY

ABUT’ MAKWE: 2013 TAX SEASON IS UPON US

Isidingo’s Keketso Semoko

CREATING A LASTING LEGACY

PARENT:Teach your

children to saveHEALTH:Happy, Healthy Skin

FOOD:Dorah Sitole on

cooking for a crowd

FreeCopy

A member of the Post Offi ce group

Bakgotsi Account

1July-August 2013

CONTENTS

PUBLISHER: Busi SkenjanaMANAGING EDITOR: Thula SkenjanaSUB EDITOR: Siphumelele NeneCONTRIBUTORS: Makwe Masilela, Ps Xana McCauleyFREELANCE JOURNALISTS: Busisiwe Mokwena, Nokulunga Mkhize, Molife Kumona , Nokuthula Ngobese, Chester Makana, Motlagaabo Moagi DESIGN: www.subtract.co.zaCOVER PICTURE BY: ProvidedADVERTSING SALES: sales@stokvelvoice.co.zaPICTURES BY: sxc.hu/dreamstimePRINTERS: Paarl Media

Total readership: 100 000 (each Stokvel member belongs to an average family of 5)Frequency: Bi-Monthly

Stokvel Voice: There are 811 830 stokvels and 11.4 million stokvel members with a total estimated value of R44 billion. With 40% of the South African population currently belong to a stokvel, boasting a myriad of personalities ranging from your ordinary ‘Gogo’ down the road all the way to the CEO of a blue chip company. Stokvel members are economically active with an estimated contribution of R200 to R2000 per month. Stokvels have come to be recognised as a “People’s Social Group’. This is a core and cradle of the UBUNTU values. Support is the key word and the glue that cements any given Stokvel family.

Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided in this publication is accurate. Editorial content published in this publication is not necessarily the views of and opinions of the proprietor, publisher, the editor and staff members. Under no circumstances, including, but not limited to, negligence, shall Stokvel Voice be liable for any special, incidental or consequential damages that result from material published in this publication including the views and opinions of our contributors and freelance journalists. We welcome submissions but retain the unrestricted rights to amend and received copy.

Copyright: Except otherwise explicitly noted, the entire contents of this publication included within the framework of what is referred to as the “Stokvel Voice” is Copyright 2012. All rights reserved under South African copyright Laws, neither this Publication nor its contents may be copied, reproduced, republished, uploaded, scanned, transmitted, or distributed in any way, in whole or in part, without the written consent of the publisher. Copy Infringement is a criminal offence and punishable by law.

Send your letters toBSK Marketing,PO Box 731048,Fairlands, 2030.

Tel: 011 478 7840Cell:078 800 2714

Or email editor@stokvelvoice.co.za

PUBLISHER2 | Sis’ Busi: Women are Captains of the Economy

STOKVEL EXPERT4 | Abuti’ Makwe: 2013 Tax season is upon us

STOKVEL VALUES 5 | Pastor XanaA woman’s worth

STOKVEL PROFILE6 | Boosting each other financially

STOKVEL INSPIRATION7 | From selling second hand clothes to an award winning tomato farmer

FINANCE8 | Hire purchase

COVER STORY10 | Creating a lasting legacy

HOUSEHOLD12 | Safety in winter

STOKVEL PARENT14 | Teach your kids to save

STOKVEL HEALTH16 | Happy healthy skin

STOKVEL MOTORING18 | Hyandai Sonata 2.4 GDI

STOKVEL FOOD20 | Cooking from Cape to Cairo

Cover story: Keketso Semokopg 10

East African fish curry.pg 21

Second hand clothes to award winning farmer.pg 7

@StokvelVoiceStokvel Voice

2 July-August 2013

PUBLISHER

Sis’ Busi

Stokvel Expert and Marketing Consultant

Busi Skenjana

WOMEN ARE CAPTAINS OF THE ECONOMYWomen play an important role in the economic sector but this usually goes unnoticed

In honouring and motivating stokvel women, I will deviate a bit from my planned Seven Habits of Highly effective stokvels article. Stokvel Voice being a bi-monthly publication, I will not have an opportunity to salute stokvel mothers of the nation. KEY ROLE OF WOMEN I was reading one of the magazine booklets called Women on Wheels (WOW). The booklet features differ-ent makes of cars, starting from the top of the range German cars such as Audi TT to the little Spark. What I like about this little booklet is that it does not only cover the technical details about cars, it also serves as an inspiration to women in terms of the progress women have made from being on the passenger seat as daughters, wives and girlfriends to pushing big “machines” such as top of the range cars. As I was go-ing through the booklet, day-dream-ing and imagining myself driving one of the big fancy cars, I was struck by an article titled, “High Heels High Hopes”. I later discovered in this article a lot of information I did not know about the role of women in the motor industry.

4 FASCINATING FACTS I discovered four fascinating facts in this booklet about women and cars or women on wheels. (Source : Women on Heels; Chantelle Oost-huizen)

1.Mrs Bertha Benz (wealthy wife of automotive pioneer Carl Benz) was the first person to undertake a long-distance trip by car. She proved her mechanical skills when en route; she unblocked the car-burettor with a hairpin. It is said when she arrived back at home she informed Mr Benz that the vehicle needed a further gear for hill climb.

2.Dr Christine Hohmann-Dennhardt, who sits on the company board at Daimler AG, is unapologetic, “The formula for success in business is the same for women and men...If you believe you can reach your goals, others will believe you too.”

3.Mary Barry is Senior Vice Pres-ident of Global Product Devel-opment at General Motors and Forbes highest ranked female in the motor world.

4.Here at home we have our own Elisabeth Bradley a very wealthy motor magnate. She is non-ex-ecutive Chairperson of Toyota SA Limited.

MORE THAN SKIN DEEP Before you say, Ja! But these are all white women who had all the privi-leges, maybe you should take a mo-ment and reflect on many unknown and unsung heroines in the motor industry such as women who own a fleet of taxis. Unfortunately the taxi industry is still perceived as an infor-mal sector and yet the formal motor

manufacturing industry is benefiting billions of rands from this sector.

WOMEN ARE KEY ECONOMIC DRIVERSThe point I am making is that women, especially black women do undermine their potential and power. I have had the honour to be part of the stokvels year-end bulk groceries buying campaign. I have seen ordinary women from all corners of South Africa enriching the wholesalers through the money they spend buying bulk groceries for their families. Yes these women are not acknowledged as key economic drivers, because they do not own major wholesalers, and yet they en-rich the retail sector and many other business sectors that benefit from stokvel savings.

I would like to say to all women stokvel members, you may not be a BIG name, but you are BIG in your own unique way. You are the main driver of the estimated R44 billion stokvel market. I hope that one day some of you will be quoted as top Captains of the industry, literally driving the economy just like the women I read about in the Women on Wheels magazine.

Halala Makhokazi eStokvel! Happy Women’s Month.

I

3July-August 2013

ADVERTORIAL

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To the dealer/stockist:This coupon entitles the bearer to receive R1 (incl. VAT) off the regular price of any Moir’s Biscuits in return for this coupon. This coupon may be redeemed by sending it to the Coupon Clearing Bureau, PO Box 32003, Braamfontein, 2017. Moir’s will not redeem any coupons which have been redeemed on any other product(s) other than Moir’s Biscuits. Purchase of sufficient stock to cover coupons presented for redemption must be proved upon request. Only valid, or original coupons will be accepted. Redeemable at major retailers. Coupons may not be exchanged for cash.

Misuse of this coupon constitutes fraud. Expiry date: 30 June 2014

R1 offinclusive of VAT on any Moir’s Biscuits

R1.00 off any Moir’s biscuits (VAT inclusive)

To the dealer/stockist:This coupon entitles the bearer to receive R1 (incl. VAT) off the regular price of any Moir’s Biscuits in return for this coupon. This coupon may be redeemed by sending it to the Coupon Clearing Bureau, PO Box 32003, Braamfontein, 2017. Moir’s will not redeem any coupons which have been redeemed on any other product(s) other than Moir’s Biscuits. Purchase of sufficient stock to cover coupons presented for redemption must be proved upon request. Only valid, or original coupons will be accepted. Redeemable at major retailers. Coupons may not be exchanged for cash.

Misuse of this coupon constitutes fraud. Expiry date: 30 June 2014

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Cut out coupon below and submit to major retail outlets to receive a R1.00 discount on any Moir’s Biscuits.

4 July-August 2013

EXPERT

Abuti’ Makwe

One of the founding fathers of the United States, whose face appears on the US$100 bill, Benjamin Franklin was correct when he said, “Certainty? In this world nothing is certain but death and taxes”.

Yes it’s that time of the year; the 2013 tax season is upon us. We all know the importance of paying taxes, these ranges from health and education services to safety and security. Most im-portantly, tax is the only source of income for the government. The way taxes are, you might as well marry for love and as Albert Einstein once said: “The hardest thing in the world to understand is income tax”.

NOTABLE CHANGESThe most significant policy change to be introduced this year is an increase in annual income threshold from R120 000 to R250 000 for the filing of income tax returns. This means as from this year, any taxpayer whose gross income for the year is below R250 000 needs not file a tax return only if:• they earn one salary from one employer

• they do not have any other form of income

• they need not claim deductions such as medical expenses, retirement annuities or travel expenses

As much as taxes are important

the government understands that it doesn’t have to kill the goose that lays golden eggs hence we often get some tax reliefs whenever the budget speech gets to be announced in February. The 17 European nations using the euro as a cur-rency tried to push some of its members to raise taxes and cut

spending in order to get them-selves out of their mess which is termed “sovereign crisis” but that backfired. Maybe that’s the reason why Winston Churchill noted that, “we contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man stand-ing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle”.

CONSULT REGISTERED TAX CONSULTANTIt’s very important to note that other than normal taxes like pay as you earn (PAYE) almost everything that we resell attracts tax in one way or the other. Be-fore the dividends in South Africa were taxed on company’s hands (STC) but now they’re taxed

on shareholders (your) hands. There’s also, Capital Gains Tax (CGT), hence it’s important to use SARS consultants which will be at shopping malls around the country for help. Stop listen to street experts “abo-Mr & Mrs I think I know”…pasop! Once an assessment has been issued to a taxpayer, the onus is on her/him to prove that it is wrong. If she/he cannot do so (on a balance of probabilities) then the assessment stands.

PROTECT YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATIONCriminals often make use of the tax season to take advantage of unsuspecting taxpayers. Be-ware of e-mails that ask for per-sonal, tax, banking and eFiling details such as login credentials, passwords, pins and credit/debit card information. The taxman will never ask for such informa-tion in an e-mail. SARS will also not request banking details over the phone or via e-mail, SMS or websites. Let us not be clumsy with our affairs. In case you get that tax refund please use it wisely.

2013 TAX SEASON IS UPON US

For more info:Call SARS: 0800 00 7277Visit www.sars.gov.za

Stock BrokerMakwe Masilela Stock Broker Makwe

Masilela breaks it down for us.

“It’s important to use SARS consultants which will be at shopping malls around the country for help.”

O

5July-August 2013

VALUES

Pastor Xana

Xana McCauley:Wife, Mother

and Woman &Human Rights

Activist

A WOMAN’S WORTHA woman’s place is where she deserves to be. No more. No less.

During the month of August, millions of South Africans celebrate Women’s Month to remember and honour those brave 20 000 women who marched 57 years ago in protest against the extension of Pass Laws for women.

Sadly, not enough attention is given to the struggle that women have been through and the role they have played in campaigning for the liberation and the building of our country. Our female leaders, such as Adelaide Tambo, Winnie Mandela, Fatima Meer, Bertha Mkize, Florence Matomela, Helen Joseph, and all those who fought in the struggle, need more expo-sure. The world needs to know what these women have sacrificed for us to live in freedom and in a democrat-ic country. Once that happens, our children will know that together, men and women sacrificed and struggled side by side so that we have the constitution we live by today.

RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES“We have one of the best consti-tutions in the world,” says Keketso Maema, CEO of the Commission for Gender Equality, “but people are ig-norant of their rights.” Government has indeed empowered women in politics, public and educational sec-tors, but this is not enough. It is the duty of every organisation, business, community leader, and citizen to ensure that inequality is done away with. There is a saying in the Bible: “A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough” (Gal 5:9), meaning

that a small amount of prejudice can spread rapidly and poison everyone.

INEQUALITY AND DISCRIMINATIONThen there is the issue of domestic and gender-based violence that women are subjected to on a daily basis. Men ought to be included, too, in this gross violation of hu-man rights, but statistically there is no comparison between male and female abuse cases, which leads us to conclude that women are the most vulnerable and targeted.I must be clear when I speak of violence, for it refers to physical, sexual and emotional abuse. What about the “glass ceiling” women face in the workplace? Often better equipped, women stand aghast as our male colleagues are promoted and we are side-lined not once, but many times. Has the business world not heard of the many studies done regarding the strength generated when there is an

equal number of women and men in senior positions?

WORKING TOGETHER FOR THE GREATER GOODAnd lastly, we need to look at our families and friends.We need to feel safe among loving people. Our families, cultures and traditions can-not override human dignity. Men, we need you as partners in the fight against abuse. We need you to leave a legacy for our sons and daughters. Friends, colleagues, neighbours – make a decision to speak out against discrimination and violence against women, en-courage silent victims to talk about abuse and be ready to support them in getting help. As a Christian and a pastor, I cannot emphasise enough that the Bible teaches that when God created humanity, He created it to have dominion over the earth, not over one another (Gen 1:26-28).

D

6 July-August 2013

PROFILE

Busisiwe Mokwena

Boosting each other financially

Most stokvels are started by people who have known each other for years. The trust that they have built and developed over the years forms the basis of their stokvel.

This is the case with Mhluzi, Middleburg based Sisonke Social Club. The members formed the stokvel so that they could be more than just friends but help boost each other financially. “We had been neighbours and mostly friends for the most part of our lives. We attended the same schools and socialised together. So forming a stokvel was the most natural step in our lives,” said their chairlady Thoko Skosana. She said they felt that they were wasting money and they could do something more constructive with it. “Meeting and giving it to one of us to use it for something they probably really need made sense,” she continued.

THE BEGINNINGSSisonke Social Club was formed 2011 with 13 members. When they started they would give the hosting member R1000 and an extra R30 which was for each members’

plate of food. As the years progressed the contribution also grew. They currently give the hosting member R1600. Refreshments are also catered for in this amount. Now with only 11 members, Sisonke has only one female member who is Thoko. In fact, she has been the only female member since the group’s inception. This rose among the many thorns has been the driving force of the group. “Not that we don’t want other female members, it’s just that no one comes forth to join, “she said.

UPLIFTING THE COMMUNITYEven though the club is fairly new, the members are already contributing to community upliftment projects. In the beginning of 2013 they decided to help those who are less fortunate in their

community. “The contributions are helping us with our individual needs, but we thought that we can extend a helping hand to others. We came up with the idea of collecting school shoes to distribute to destitute and needy children in schools in and around the Middelburg area,” explained Thoko.

Each member of Sisonke is required to bring at least a pair of school shoes to their monthly meetings. “It doesn’t have to be a single pair, if a member feels they can bring more pair of shoes they can. We are aiming to gather about 150 shoes for distributition,” said Thoko. FUTURE PLANSThe members would like to keep their club as casual as possible and not formalise it. “We thought about buying chairs and tables to lend to members and other community members however we felt that would make us a more formal society but we are still in discussion as to how we can own certain things without becoming formalised. We are about fun,” she said.

Since the Sisonke members meet only eleven times in the year, they are looking for ways on how they can use the twelfth month of the year to benefit from their year’s savings. “We are thinking of putting extra money on the side to share amongst ourselves in December or even use it to go on holiday so that we can explore our beautiful country,” she concluded. With their dedication and drive the sky is the limit for Sisonke Social Club.

Sisonke Social Club constructively working together to uplift its members and their community

“The contributions are helping us with our individual needs, but we thought that we can extend a helping hand to others.”

M

7July-August 2013

INSPIRATION

Chester Makana

Seventeen years ago Asnath Livhuwani Mulaudzi decided to invest a small profit she earned from selling second hands clothes into tomato farming. This was the beginning of a bigger dream. She was able to move from farming on one hector to 52 hectors. She became an international supplier of tomatoes, and accredited supplier of Tiger Brands and exporter to the Indian market. Today, she is one of the most successful businesswomen in Limpopo, and has customers as far as Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Botswana. At the moment she produces at least 4 000 tonnes of tomatoes for international and domestic markets, and some to informal retailers. HER INTEREST IN FARMINGHer dream started when she was selling clothes to farm workers in Nwanedi’s tomato farm near Musina.“I realised that I had a potential to make profit if I ventured into farming, as I use to watch them receiving their salaries. One day I decided to ask if I can rent a hector,” she told Stokvel Voice. “I am not a trained farmer, but I learned the trade on the job. I am not an educated person, but I told myself there was no way I was going to give up until I reach the top. I persevered and learnt from other women in the business during Farmers Forum. I followed the recommended steps and guidelines in planting and slowly I saw the difference.”

“Starting up was very difficult, buyers

did not have confidence in me because I was new. But you have to build it until they come on board,” she says. Currently, her company employs 45 full-time workers and sometimes during the harvest season additional twenty-five are hired.

Today, Mulaudzi enjoys farming and is so in love with it that no one can separate her from plants on the farms, even bacteria that kills or threatens her tomatoes, she still continues to fight.

RECOGNITION IN THE INDUSTRYHer fighting spirit and positive attitude saw her win the Female Farmer Award of the year in 2006.“I entered the competition and won but it was only after ten years in farming. Farming needs someone who is very patient and focused because bacteria and high production cost may sometimes discourage you. But if you know

what you want, hold on, you will reap what you sow.”

She adds that winning a Female Farmer award boosted her confidence and encouraged her to work harder. In 2011, she was also a finalist of Female Farmer’s award, the export category.

FUTURE PLANSHer wish is to expand and have at least 150 hectors of land where she can expand her farming and employ more people. “There is demand for tomatoes, but with limited space we are failing to take advantage of our vegetation that makes it easy to plant tomato.” But this does not mean she has stopped planning because she is farming on a small space, she is searching for another space in the neighbourhood. “I cannot buy a farm at the moment because I am spending a lot of money on electricity; production is expensive and it is just difficult to buy another farm. Mulaudzi is planning to venture into sunflower farming, it is untapped market for most black farmers, “I want to see how our counterparts are doing it, and I will try this season.” With her dedication and drive, the sky is the limit for her.

From selling second hand clothes to an award winning tomato farmerPerseverance and hard work has seen Asnath Mulaudzi become a top tomato farmer

S

8 July-August 2013

FINANCE

Nokuthula Ngobese

There are some big purchases that we are not able to pay for in cash. To be able to afford these purchases we use hire purchase which is a common way of paying for major items, such as furniture, household appliances and cars.

Hire purchase is buying on cred-it, without paying the full amount straight away but pay on monthly installments. This can seem like an easy and practical way to pay and buy items when you do not have the money. The danger and challenge is that hire purchase will almost cost more than the price on the price tag. You will also be charged interest and administrative costs on the deal. Therefore, it is wise to find out the real cost before you sign the deal. If you have not done your calculations correctly things can quickly get out of control. You could end up being listed at the credit bureau if you fail to meet your monthly installments to pay back the money for the goods you’ve purchased. Remember, your stokvel can help you save for that dream dining suite. The good news is that hire purchase and sales agreements can be a good option if you treat them carefully; we look

at how you can make them work for you.

HOW TO MANAGE HIRE PURCHASE:1. Ask the sales person to explain

and clarify all the fees and charg-es over the full repayment peri-od. They should tell you exactly how much you will pay at the end of the installment period.

2. If the deal you are signing offers 0% interest for the first few months, ask what the interest rate will be when the interest free period comes to an end. Know-ing this before hand will help you decide if you can afford the payments when the interest kicks in.

3. The store must give you a contract detailing all the terms of your credit agreement before you sign. Carefully read the copy of this statement before you agree to the deal. If the agreement is difficult to understand, ask for help from someone else so that you are clear on what you are committing yourself to. If there are issues that you do not agree with, ask the store to clarify them for you.

4.Check the charges and fees with the price of what you are buy-ing. It may be that the charges are more than the interest you would pay on a different loan. For example, it might be cheaper for you to take on a bank loan and buy the item you need than to sign up for the hire purchase agreement.

5. Compare the finance deals offered by different stores and select the cheaper one.

6. Work out the total amount you will pay. Is it worth the value of the goods you are buying at the end of the day? Could you delay the purchase and save more for the deposit?

7. Do not take on a few hire pur-chase or finance deals at the same time. It can be hard to pay off a number of debts at once.

8. If you think you’ll have problems making your monthly payment, notify the store immediately so that you can make arrange-ments. Once you have made the new payment arrangement, stick to it.

9. Before you sign on the dotted line, ask yourself if you really need to purchase the goods.

10.Remember that the goods do not belong to you until you have paid them fully. If you fail to meet your monthly obligations the store can repossess them.

HIRE PURCHASEHow to manage the hire purchase agreements

Useful contacts:National Debt Mediation Association: 0861 11 6362National Credit Regulator: 0860 627 627

H

9July-August 2013

Chester Makana

IT’S NEVER TOO LATE TO SAVEMETROPOLITAN SHOWS YOU SIMPLE, EFFECTIVE WAYS TO SAVE

When money is tight, saving can be difficult. Since July is National Savings Month, Wilfred Moyo, an Investment and Economic Strategist at Metropolitan, shares the importance of making sound financialchoices that will help you shape your financial future.

When receptionist Zintle Thuso*, 38, was retrenched, she was fortunate to have a savings plan that covered her monthly expenses while she looked for another job. Sadly, many South Africans don’t have this.‘‘Life is unpredictable and emergencies are unavoidable. It’s best to build an emergency fund that’s about three to six times your monthly income after tax so that you have a financial cushion in a crisis,” advises Moyo.

Saving is about setting a financial goal and putting some money away at the beginning of the month, so you won’t be tempted to spend. “Make your money work for you – putting it in an interest-bearing account over a fixed period will mean that its value will grow,’’ says Moyo.“If you have to buy a car, rather save up andput down a deposit through a bank loan so

that your future payments on the loan are affordable, even when the interest rates rise,’’ he says.

WAYS TO SAVE MONEY There are several ways to save: through your bank, insurance or collective investments like unit trusts, and by purchasing government retail bonds or an investment asset like a house or art.“Teach your children the value of money when they are still young,” advises Moyo. “Teach them, for example, that R2 buys you less than R5 and take them shopping with you. Also, explain that in 2005, R1 used to buy 10 sweets and now, eight years later, you are only able to buy three sweets with R1.”

PREPARING FOR RETIREMENT The ever-rising cost of living means you’ll have to prepare for retirement in order to live comfortably in old age. If you’re already saving through your employer’s retirement fund, you may still need to top up your contribution through a separate retirement annuity in order to retire comfortably. “ The regular income you would want to earn after retirement should be between 75 and 90 percent of your income

before retirement. For example, if you’re about to retire and are currently earning R10 000, you will need at least a R7 500 monthly retirement income.“

“If you have debts and have some money left after budgeting each month, try to pay off your most expensive debts first. Paying more than you have to will reduce your repayment period, and before long you will be on your way to financial freedom.” *Not her real name.

TOP 10 SAVING TIPS1. Stop making excuses for not saving.2. See a qualified financial adviser.3. Prioritise your needs.4. Cut down on your expenses.5. Set yourself a financial goal.6. Use credit carefully.7. Pay off expensive debts first. 8. Teach your children to save.9. Shop around before you buy.10. Save for your retirement.

FOR MORE INFORMATIONContact Metropolitan’s customer care line on 0860 724 724.

Metropolitan, a division of MMI Group Limited, an authorised financial services provider.

808007_Metro_Stokvel Voice Advertorial_FA.indd 1 2013/06/28 4:30 PM

10 July-August 2013

COVER STORY

Molife Kumona

Mention the name Keketso Semoko and some people are confused as to who you are talking about, but if you say MaAgnes then everyone knows the woman.

Having been on Isidingo for over 10 years this actress has not only become a household name but she has also been one that is loved. Earlier this year Keketso became the face of new washing powder Ariel, and she is also a producer of a drama series on Mzansi Magic. It seems there is no stopping this woman who even though she doesn’t belong to stokvels says they are the reasons she managed to go to school trips because of the mon-ey her mother had saved through stokvels when she was growing up.

WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY BUSY WITH KEKETSO?Well I am busy with a few things. First it’s my role as MaAgnes on Isidingo, which I continue to love to play. I am also the motivational ambassador for Ariel washing powder and I travel to different cities in our country meeting women to tell them about the washing powder and we use it together at wash offs. It is so exciting. I am also a producer of drama series. Earlier this year I was one of the producers of 20/20 and Orlando East on

Creating A LASTING LEGACYMolife Kumona chats to actress Keketso Semoko about her role behind the scenes and the legacy she is creating through mentorship in townships, and her opinions on stokvels.

11July-August 2013

COVER STORY

Molife Kumona

Mzansi Magic. I also do motiva-tional talks monthly in different townships that I call Lean On Me.

WHAT IS LEAN ON ME ALL ABOUT?I basically go to different com-munities monthly, especially townships and I speak to people about the issues they are going through. In the talks I also help people to come up with their own solutions. The motivational talks are about helping and empow-ering people not to wait upon other people or the government to bring changes in their lives but for them to own their lives and make changes for themselves, no matter how small.

ARE YOU PART OF A STOKVEL AT THE MOMENT OR HAVE YOU BEEN IN ONE?Unfortunately I am not part of a stokvel and have never been in one. The reason is because my career is very busy at times and I travel so I decided not to join any stokvel because I know I wouldn’t be able to put as much commitment as I would like to. But my aunts, cousins and other family members are part of a stokvel. And I join them for their meetings sometimes when they do socials. In fact in 2012 I went with them on a trip the stokvel organised to Cape Town.

SO DO YOU THINK STOKVELS ARE IMPORTANT? IF YES WHY?Well my mother who is a retired nurse has always been in a stokvel for as long as I can remember. She would sometimes give us school money and pay for our trips

through the money from her stokvel. I have also seen that stokvels create a com-munity and a friendship among people. Those kinds of relationships usually last for a long time and if one person has a funeral, wedding or party the people from that stokvel chip in and help out. That makes the burden and work of that event less on the member of that group. It is also such a good way to save money and because people save as a group it is definitely a good motivating force if you are lazy to save. It’s also a great thing that financial institutions now recognise stokvels and they give them good interest rates.

SO WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS TO HAVE IN A STOKVEL?Well the first thing is trust among the members. That is the one thing that will determine the suc-cess or collapse of any stokvel. Second would have to be an un-

derstanding among members, people need to understand each other so that when there are goals set everyone can get involved. Stokvels also need people with com-mitment; one can-not be part of the group one month

then skip a month and then join on another. That inconsistency can create an imbalance in the team which can lead to the break down of the stokvel. As I said be-

fore; the commitment is

the reason why I haven’t joined any stokvel yet. When a group is starting I suggest people be honest about their level of com-mitment so not to cause discord in the stokvel later on. WHAT IS NEXT FOR YOU? WHAT IS YOUR VISION FOR YOURSELF KEKETSO?My dream for myself now is to continue being a story teller. I would like to continue telling South African stories as an actress as well as a producer. I feel there are a lot of stories that we still need to see and hear as a country and I hope to create a legacy in that story telling. I also hope to keep entertaining people on the great show Isidingo.

“I have also seen that Stokvels create a community and a friendship among people.”

12 July-August 2013

HOUSEHOLD

Motlagaabo Moagi

SAFETY IN WINTER

We all crave warmth during the icy winter months. Unfortunately, it’s during this season that many people lose their lives while trying to keep themselves and their fami-lies warm. Here are a few tips to keep you safe this winter.

IN YOUR HOME Fire and brassieres (izimbawula)This is the cheapest, but most dangerous, form of keeping your-self warm in winter. Many people, especially living in the rural areas, townships and squatter camps, still rely on brassiers to keep them-selves warm. However if necessary precautions are not followed, this can lead to the house catching fire and people losing their lives.

DO: Make sure that you put out the fire before going to sleep.Your house can catch fire, or you could inhale harmful fumes while sleeping.

HEATERS & ELECTRIC BLANKETS Heaters and electric blankets are ‘life-savers’ during the winter

season for those who can afford them. It takes just a few minutes to warm your home or blankets when using these convenient appliances. However, they need to be used with great care.

DO: Buy heaters with a tip-over and overheat protection. These heaters automatically switch off when they fall over, preventing fires. If you can’t afford to buy this kind of a heater and you’re using a paraffin heater, take great care when filling it up and NEVER leave it unattended. When using an electric blanket, make sure it’s not faulty and remember to switch off when you go to sleep.

FOODThere’s nothing like a warm bowl of soup, hearty stew, a cup of coffee, or vetkoeks (magwinya) to keep you warm in winter. But things can go horribly wrong when cooking your favourite food to keep you warm. Pots falling off the stove or spills could end in nasty burns.

DO: Keep hot food and liquids from the counter edges. If you get burned, put the wound under cold running water. Seek medical help if the burn wound is severe.

ON THE STREETS There are many people who work hard to put food on the table and feed their families. They don’t have the luxury to remain in bed and enjoy the warmth of their homes on cold days. Some are already on the streets to catch their transport to work as early as five o’clock in the morning. But leaving home while it’s still dark in the morning, or returning home late at night poses its own challenges. It makes you an easy target for thugs. People get mugged, and those who are unfortunate end up being killed by their attackers.

DO: Walk together with the people in your neighbourhood who catch the same bus as you. Or ask your male relative, if you’re a woman walking to the bus stop alone, to accompany you. Always remember that there’s safety in numbers. ON THE ROADSWinter weather can sometimes make driving difficult and frustrating. A mist and snowflakes can make it difficult for you to see where you are going when you’re driving. Some parts of South Africa experienced snow last year, so be careful when you’re driving under such weath-er conditions as the roads can be slippery.

DO: Drive slowly and make sure that you leave enough distance between your car and the car in front of you. Also remember to put on your lights so that you are visible to other drivers on the road. This will help reduce the number of accidents on the road.

Want to keep your family warm, but safe this winter? We show you how

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13July-August 2013

Name

HELPS REMOVE TOUGH STAINS*

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For more information visit us on www.facebook.com/ArielSouthAfrica

*As tested on stains such as beetroot juice, tea and clay.

446627 HS Print 275x210.indd 1 2013/07/18 12:09 PM

14 July-August 2013

PARENT

Motlagaabo Moagi

TEACH YOUR CHILDREN TO SAVE

July is a National Savings Month. This is an opportunity to teach your children to save and not spend all the money they have.

Learning to save from a young age is a good skill that will help them to survive in the real world. The sad reality is that most of the adult population in South Africa do not save. If we have extra cash we blow it away forgetting those rainy days. “It’s sad that South Af-ricans don’t have a culture of saving. However, it’s not too late to turn this around and teach our children about good financial habits. This will benefit them when they get older,” says a Pretoria based financial planner William Motsuki says.

Here are a few tips to get you started since July is a National Savings Month:

1. Buy your child a piggy bank (savings box)

Children as young as seven years old can be encouraged to save money by buying them a piggy bank that they can put coins into. “Get them a transparent piggy bank and en-courage them to save a portion of their pocket money. Your children will enjoy watching their pile of coins getting bigger every day,” says William.

2.Encourage them to split any money they have by two

You can come up with a little mot-to that you and your children can live by. For example, you can say, “for every money you’re willing to spend, a portion of it will be

saved”. Teach your children to get into the habit of splitting any mon-ey they get their hands on into two – one portion for sending and another for saving. For example,

if you give your child R5 to spend

at school every day, the child can spend R2.50 and save the other half.

3. Help them set financial goals Your children will be motivated to

save more money if that is tied to a specific goal. They could save money to buy a toy, book, games or tickets for the movie they would like to watch. Help them count the money now and then to check how close they are toward achiev-ing their goal. And when they’ve saved all the money they need, you can take them to the shops to buy that special something

they’ve been saving for.

4. Offer rewards for saving When your child has success-

fully managed to save a certain amount of money, you could give them a treat or a reward for a job

well done. For example, you could say that for every R40 you save, I will add R10 to it to make it R50. This will encourage them to save more, knowing that there’s a reward for saving.

5. Lead by exampleOur children mimic everything we do, so also get into the habit of saving so that your children can follow your example. If you are helping your young child to save mon-ey, you can also have a trans-parent jar where you keep all your small change when getting back from the shops.

BOX FOR OLDER KIDS• You can teach them about the value of money by including them in the household finances. For example, you can ask them to help you calculate all the bills that need to be paid.

• Open a savings account for them where they can deposit their savings

• Encourage them to form a savings group (stokvel) with their peers where they can save money for some of the school items they need (for example, that school back pack they’re dying to have).

Following the above-mentioned tips will teach your children not to get into debt by borrowing money when they get older, but rather save money for the things they need. A skill that is necessary to survive in today’s world.

Practical tips to teach your children to save

J

15July-August 2013

Motlagaabo Moagi

16 July-August 2013

Winter can be tough on our skins. We are in front of heat-ers, we are out in the harsh sun and the changes in climate make our skin dry and irritable. But no more! Say hello to glow-ing skin all through the cold season… SKINAlmost everyone has a problem with dry skin in winter, so it’s nat-ural. To get riad of it, use a mois-turising shower gel or soap, and use a mild exfoliator or body scrub at least three times a week. Go for bath products that contain honey oil and vanilla. Also, make sure that you spend no more than 10 minutes in the bath and be sure to use warm water – hot water strips the natural layer of oil of your skin.Always remember to moisturise rights after a bath – use body but-ters or aqueous creams for best results. A tip: Add some baby oil or argan oil to your bath or to your body while you shower to give your skin added moisture. You can also make your own exfoliator by mixing together honey, sugar and cinnamon.

FACEYou can’t use the same face creams now that you’ve been us-ing in the warmer months. Go for something heavier – many creams say “for dry skin” on the packag-ing, so go for those. Also use a good cream at night. If you don’t usually use eye cream, use one in winter. It will hydrate the eye area that is usually under strain in cold weather.

LIPSLips cannot stay moisturised be-cause they don’t have oil glands. Use a good lip balm or lip but-ter (Vaseline works well). Apply

throughout the day to avoid your lips chapping. Also avoid licking your lips as doing this cause your lips to chap and dry out faster. You should also exfoliate your lips using a soft toothbrush or a damp washcloth.

SCALPJust as every other part of your body, your scalp is also affected by winter. If your scalp is dry, your hair is dry. For this, wash hair with a good rehydrating shampoo and conditioner in warm water. Hot water causes the scalp to flake more. Tip: Heat up some coconut oil and brown sugar, wait for it to cool down and apply onto hair and scalp before washing. Leave in for two to three hours and wash.

HANDS AND FEETThese two parts of your body get the most exposure. For hands, apply a good hand cream to your hands after every wash. Wear gloves and use cuticle oil on your cuticles, as they crack and peel easily in cold weather. For feet, wear socks and warm shoes. Using a foot butter will also keep them soft and smooth. A tip: Soak hands and feet in bucket of warm water, baby oil,honey and lemon.

HAPPY, HEALTHY SKINJust because it’s cold, doesn’t mean you need to have cracked lips, chapped hands and dry skin.You are on your way to better-looking skin…

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HEALTH

Nokulunga Mkhize

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17July-August 2013

SSD - Stokvel Voice Full Page Ad.indd 1 2013/07/18 3:06 PM

18 July-August 2013

MOTORING

LIFE IN A SUZUKI VITARASis Busi having spent a week driving this head-turner, weighs the pros & cons

In the township we have a say-ing:“Yonke insipho iyawasha”, meaning that any washing pow-der washes.

And that ref-erence can be used with any-thing in life… In this instance, I will use it for cars – any car moves –which is what I thought when I got the oppor-tunity to test drive the Suzuki Vitara.I looked at it and said to myself, “Ja! Neh! Yes zonke izimoto zi-yavaya!” What is so special about this car? I am no car expert, but here’s what my experience with the Suzuki Vitara was like…

IMAGE: What can I say other than the car looks good. Inesithunzi (it has dignity). When you jump in and out of the car, people take notice. While it’s not in the popular, luxury German-car league, I can assure you that whenever you park this car, people only have good things to say. So if you are in this car, you will not go unnoticed.

THE GOOD!• Leather seats: What a deal! In

our culture, if you own a prod-uct made from genuine leather (handbags, shoes, couches, jackets), it immediately elevates

you to a certain level. So the Suzuki Vitara is no different.• Sound system: With a six-CD front loader, you can listen to your gospel, hip hop and any other mu-sic you and your stokvel members

enjoy.• Sun-roof: Any car that has a

sunroof is no ordinary car.This outstand-ing fea-ture made me appre-ciate the car’s good looks even more.

• Steering functionali-ty: It has all the basic features, such as vol-ume adjustment. But what I like most about this feature in this car is that I don’t have to focus

any attention on the volume but-tons while I drive… everything is at my fingertips.

THE NOT SO GOOD!• Clock: I’m one of those people

who always run late for meet-ings. So, it helps for me to have a clock in my sights at all times, so I know how much time I have. But with the Suzuki Vitara, you need about two pairs of reading glasses to figure where the clock is!

• Speed: While it has some pow-er, you have to really work the car to see any kind of perfor-mance.

• Petrol: This car is not pock-et-friendly. The way this car could work in your favour,

fuel-wise, is if you had a lift club, or you are sharing the vehicle costs with another per-son. After all we stokvel members spend a huge percent-age of our

time attending funerals, unveilings and all sorts of imichimbi. You could always share the petrol costs with your stokvel members.

Sis’ Busi

I

19July-August 2013

ADVERTORIAL

Open a bottle of mango atchar and find a blend of mouth-watering flavours that are as South African as braaivleis, kwaito, vuvuzelas and sunny skies.

Atchar is a fiery pickle made of chopped vegetables or fruits, oil, sugar, spices and chilli. Although there are many variations, in South Africa our Indian-inspired atchar is a zesty blend of green mango, chillies, spices and sunflower oil.

It is believed that atchar first found its way to South African shores when Indians were brought to the Cape as slaves in

the late 1600’s. With the discovery of gold in the Transvaal in the late 1800’s Indian traders moved inland to the reef, taking with them their much loved atchar. They then sold their atchar to mineworkers who were looking to add a little spice to their otherwise bland and boring food rations.

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generous helping of mango atchar. The cultural melting pot at the end of our rainbow has made sure that the appeal of atchar has begun to take hold in all South African households.

If you’re looking to add a little bite to your meal – add more mango atchar.

For more information and mango recipes, visit www.mango.co.za

Serving Suggestion: Atchar with Meat

Serving Suggestion: Atchar with Snoek

Serving Suggestion: Atchar on your Borrie Roll

Serving Suggestion: Atchar and Toasted Cheese

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20 July-August 2013

This month’s celebrity chef is Ma Dorah Sitole. You will probably know her from her years as food editor for True Love magazine, where she was later the editor. In 2006 she was one 4 of recipients of the inaugural South African Chefs Presidents Award - for outstanding contri-bution to the country’s hospitality industry.

Dorah has travelled and cooked internationally and has showcased South African cooking in amongst others, Mem-phis Tennessee, Tokyo, Brazil, Thailand and Rome (where she cooked for former SA President Thabo Mbeki’s and his team of top South African business people).

She wrote the cookbooks Cooking from Cape to Cairo and Recipes with a Touch of Africa.

She is a recipient of 4 Galliova Awards for food writing and styling and now serves on the prestigious Galliova Awards judging panel which awards consumer magazines’ food writers for excellence.

Dorah developed 26 recipes for the television series Cooking Gospel whichis flighting from Sunday 1 September. Watch it every Sunday at 11 am on e.tv.Celebrities and artists such as Nkonzo, Lebo Mashile, Donald, Judith Sephuma, The Twinz, Clint Brink, Loyisa Bala, Kabomo, J’Something, Wan da Baloyi, KB, ProKid, Moneoa, DJ Zinhle and Tumelo can be seen cooking Sunday lunch with Spekko Rice and presenter Zandi Nhlapo.

The series will screen until the first week in December.

Cooking for a crowd Preparing food for groups of people for stokvel events can be so much easier with these recipes from Spekko Rice. Keep in mind that with just 1 cup of uncooked Spekko Parboiled Long Grain Rice, you can get as much as 4 cups of cooked rice.

All 3 recipes can easily be multiplied - and you can use any of the 6 Spekko Rice variants.

Look for the following new Spekko Rice variants in the rice isle of your supermarket:

• Spekko Saman Parboiled • Spekko India Gate Classic Basma • Spekko Royal Umbrella Jasmine Rice • Spekko Saman Brown Rice • Spekko Saman White Rice

FOOD

FOOD

A member of the Post Offi ce group

Bakgotsi Account

Ribs with lentils and rice Serves 6-8 Recipe by Dorah Sitole.

30ml (2tbsp) olive oil1kg meaty beef short bibs or pork spare ribs1 large onion, chopped and 1 clove garlic, crushed½ each green, red and yellow peppers, diced1 bay leaf3ml (1/2 tsp) thyme3ml (1/2 tsp) rosemarysalt and freshly ground black pepper to taste500ml (2 cups) water125ml (½ cup) lentils125ml (½ cup) Spekko Parboiled Long Grain Rice1 X 410 g can tomatoes, peeled, chopped30ml (2tbsp) fresh parsley, chopped

1. Heat oil in a large ovenproof casserole and brown ribs in batches on all sides. Remove ribs and set aside.2. Add onions, garlic and peppers to casserole, cook stirring occasionally for 10 minutes.3. Return ribs to casserole; add bay leaf, dry herbs, salt and pepper. 4. Add water and bring to the boil, cover reduce the heat to low and simmer for 1 hour,5. Stir in lentils, rice and tomatoes, cover and simmer for a further 30 minutes or until rice and meat are tender. Add more water if stew is too dry.6. Remove the bay leaf, adjust seasoning and sprinkle with fresh parsley.

Roasted butternut stuffed with beef and rice Serves 6Dorah Sitole developed this recipe for Cooking Gospel. The filling can also be served out of the butternut halves – but then serve with roasted butternut on the side.

3 butternutsolive oilFilling60ml (6tbsp) oil750g stewing steak, cubed2 onions, diced5ml (1tsp) ground coriander, 5ml (1tsp) ground cumin, 5ml (1tsp) garam masala45ml (3tbsp) curry paste250ml (1 cup) frozen peas1 large red pepper, diced4 carrots, diced250ml (1 cup) Spekko Parboiled Long Grain Rice 2 beef stock cubes dissolved in750ml (3 cups) watersalt and pepper to taste5 ml (1 tsp) turmeric, fresh coriander, chopped

1. Preheat oven to 180°C. Halve the butternuts and remove seeds, drizzle with olive oil and roast for 15 minutes.2. For the filling: Heat oil in a large saucepan and brown the beef, remove and keep warm.3. Add onions to the saucepan and fry together with spices and curry paste until soft.4. Add red pepper, carrots, rice and stock. Season to taste and simmer gently for 45 minutes.5. Spoon into butternut, sprinkle with saffron and coriander, return butternuts to oven and bake for a further 20 minutes or until butternuts are soft.6. Serve warm with a tomato, onion, chillies and vinegar sambal.

From the Spekko kitchen

• The stewing steak can be replaced by lamb cubes.• Use Spekko India Gate Classic Basmati Rice or Spekko Royal Umbrella Jasmine Rice can be used instead of the Parboiled.

Chicken and peanut stew Serves 6Recipe by Dorah Sitole.

125ml (1/2 cup)peanut butter30ml (2tbsp) tomato paste65ml (¼ cup) water30ml (2tbsp) oil1 chicken, cut into portions, 1 onion, chopped, 1garlic clove, crushed30ml (2tbsp) grated ginger3 chillies, chopped, 3 tomatoes, peeled and chopped2 chicken stock cubes, dissolved in500ml (2 cups) hot water2 bay leaves, salt and pepper to tasteSpekko Parboiled Long Grain Rice to serve

1. Mix peanut butter with tomato paste and water. Cook mixture until oil appears on top, set aside.2. Heat palm oil and brown chicken pieces. Add onion, garlic, ginger, chillies and tomatoes. 3. Sauté together for 10 minutes. Add peanut sauce and stock to the chicken, season to taste. Bring to the boil and then simmer gently for 45 minutes or until chicken is tender. Serve over any Spekko Rice variant.

STOKVEL GROCERIES BUYING LIST Product Size PriceCooking pantry staples Spekko Parboiled Long Grain Rice 2kg Spekko Parboiled Long Grain Rice 5kg Spekko Parboiled Long Grain Rice 10kg White Star Super Maize Meal 10kg Samp 10kg Imbo Red Speckled Beans 10 X 500g Imbo Samp and Beans 10 X500g

Spices & condiments Salt 500g Salt 1 kg Beef stock cubes 12’sBeef stock cubes 24’sChicken stock cubes 12’s Chicken stock cubes 24’sOxtail stock cubes 12’sOxtail stock cubes 24’sCurry powder (medium) 100gCurry powder (hot) 100g Packet soup 80g eachMayonnaise 750gMayonnaise 1,5kg Tomato sauce 750ml Achar 1kg

Baking & oils Sasko Cake Flour 12,5 kg Baking powder 500gBicarbonate of soda 50 X 14g Vanilla essence 100mlDried yeast 48 X 10g Brewers yeast 24 X 20g Margarine 500g Margarine 1kgCooking oil 5LCooking oil 20L Sugar 10kg Sugar 5 kg

Tea, coffee & snacks Tea bags 200’sInstant coffee 750gCoffee creamer 1 kg Coffee creamer 10 X 250g Milk powder 900g Custard powder 6 X 500g Condensed milk 6 X 385g Assorted biscuits 2 kg Jelly powder 6 X 80g

Cans, tomato products, jams Baked beans 12 X 410g Creamed style sweetcorn 12 X 410g Mixed vegetable curry 12 X 410g Chakalaka 12 X 400g Spaghetti in tomato sauce 12 X 410g Tomato & onion mix 12 X 410g Tomato chopped and peeled 12 X 410g Tomato paste sachets 30 X 50g Pilchards in tomato sauce 425g Pilchards in hot chilli sauce 425gPeach slices in syrup 12 X 410g Fruit cocktail in syrup 12 X 410g Pineapple pieces in syrup 12 X 440g Apricot jam 6 X 900g Mixed fruit jam 6 X 900g Peach jam 6 X 900g Golden syrup 6 X 500g Peanut butter 820g

Cleaning materials & toiletries Candles 450g Toilet rolls 18 rollsDishwashing liquid 1,5LFloor polish 400ml Fabric softener 2L Fabric softener refill 500ml High foam washing powder 5kg Machine washing powder 5kg Laundry soap 500g Toothpaste 100ml Bath soap 200g