How to use Tlhakiso Stokvel

Tlhakiso Stokvel is a record-keeping and transparency tool for stokvels, burial societies and savings & investment groups. It keeps a clear, shared record of what your group does with its own money — it never holds or moves the money itself. This guide walks you through everything from creating a group to importing a bank statement.

1. Getting started

You can use Tlhakiso Stokvel on your phone or in a web browser:

• Mobile app — download from Google Play, the App Store or Huawei AppGallery.
• Web app — open tlhakiso-stokvel.web.app in any browser.

1. Open the app and choose Sign up.
2. Enter your name, email and a password (or use the sign-in options shown).
3. Verify your email if prompted, then sign in.

You use the same account across the app and the website, so your groups follow you on any device.

2. Create or join a group

If you are starting a new group (chairperson)

1. Tap Create group.
2. Give the group a name and choose its type — stokvel / savings, investment or burial society.
3. Save. You are now the group's administrator and can invite members.

If you are joining an existing group (member)

1. Ask your chairperson for the group's invite code (or invite link).
2. Tap Join group, enter the code, and confirm.
3. You now appear in the member list and can see the group's records.

3. Set up your group

Before your first cycle, add your members and your rules so everything reconciles cleanly later:

1. Add members — invite each member with the invite code, or add them manually from the Members screen.
2. Set the contribution amount and how often it is due (for example R500 per month).
3. Give each member a payment reference. This is important — when you import a bank statement, the app uses the reference to match a payment to the right member automatically. Ask members to use their reference every time they deposit.
4. Record the group's constitution (see section 9) so the rules are visible to everyone.

4. Record contributions

A contribution records that a member paid money into the group's own bank account.

1. Open your group and go to Contributions.
2. Tap Add contribution.
3. Choose the member, enter the amount and the date, and save.

Each member's running balance updates automatically, so anyone can see who is up to date and who is behind. To capture many payments at once, use the bank-statement import below instead of adding them one by one.

5. Import a bank statement

This is the fastest way to record a month of payments and keep the app in step with your real bank account.

1. Download your statement from your bank as a PDF or CSV.
2. In your group, choose Import bank statement and upload the file.
3. The app reads each line and proposes a match — to a member (using their reference) or to a category such as contribution, loan repayment, interest or fees.
4. Review the proposed matches, correct any that are wrong, and confirm. Nothing is saved until you approve it.

6. Loans & interest

If your group lends to members, track each loan and its repayments:

1. Go to Loans and tap New loan.
2. Select the member, enter the amount and the interest method — flat, simple or compound — and the rate.
3. As the member repays, record each repayment (or let the bank-statement import match it). The outstanding balance and interest are reconciled for you.

7. Payouts

A payout records money the group paid out from its own account — for example an end-of-year share-out or a grocery distribution.

1. Go to Payouts and tap Add payout.
2. Pay one member, or choose pay all members to log a distribution to the whole group at once.
3. Enter the amount(s) and date, and save. Each payout appears in the member's history and the group ledger.

8. Burial claims (burial societies)

Burial-society groups get extra tools for managing cover and claims:

• Covered-family register — list the dependants covered under each member, with a per-member limit and a “covered from” date.
• Waiting periods — the app tracks when cover becomes active.
• Lodge a claim — a member opens a claim, describes it and uploads the death certificate.
• Approve & pay — the committee reviews the claim, approves it, and records the payout from the group's account.

9. Meetings & constitution

Keep your group's rules and decisions in one place that every member can read:

• Constitution — write and update your group's rules. Tlhakiso keeps a versioned history, so members can see what changed and when.
• Meeting minutes — capture structured minutes for each meeting: attendance, decisions and action points.

10. What every member can see

Transparency is the point of Tlhakiso. Every member of the group can view:

• Their own contribution history and running balance;
• The group's total contributions, loans, interest and payouts;
• The constitution and meeting minutes;
• Burial cover and the status of any claims (for burial societies).

Administrators (chairperson / treasurer) can add and edit records; ordinary members can view them. This shared view is what removes the “where is our money?” disputes.

11. Your account

Reset your password

On the sign-in screen, choose Forgot password to receive a reset email. If you need help, contact support.

Delete your account

You can delete your account and personal data at any time — see the Account & Data Deletion page for how it works and what happens to shared group records.

Still stuck? Email support@tlhakiso.co.za or visit the Support page — we usually reply within 2 business days.