In a bid to encourage the people of the province to spend wisely during the festive season and beyond, KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Finance, Ms Ina Cronjé, threw down the gauntlet to residents, friends, family and visitors to be responsible spenders this festive season.
About 3 000 people from all walks of life, descended to Jolivet Community Hall to benefit from the provincial campaign known as ‘Spend Wisely This Festive Season Campaign’ today.
MEC Cronjé who is passionate about financial literacy in the province reminded people that the responsibility to have a debt-free life during and beyond festive season rest with each one of them.
Addressing these communities, some of whom have organised themselves into stokvels, she gave them tips for the festive season “share the load: organise for everyone to pitch and bring along a contribution on the table. Stock up on food items on sale. Start or join a stokvel that pays out in groceries and meat around the festive season”, she said.
She said communities must remember to budget for next year’s school requirements such as fees, stationery, uniform and bus fare.
Cronjé said because of the high prices of food items in the shops, those who can bake, must do so to avoid buying expensive bread daily. She also said that those who have talents in singing and business must pursue them in order to minimise the need to have to use money for everything they need.
The Deputy Mayor of uBuhlebezwe Municipality, Mlungisi Mkhize said that this area has the economic development potential, but people still need to be taught how to manage their finances. “We need more of these workshops” he said
Over excited gogos, Maria Myeza and Funani Zondi from Hluthankungu said that they have a stokvel that pays groceries. “We learnt a lot from this visit. We will use these tips when our stokvel pays out” said gogo Myeza
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MEC Cronjé gives rural Jolivet Community tips to save over the festive season and beyond
Province
