Group Savings Made Simple

Step 1: Register Your Stokvel

Go to zarstokvels.com and click "Register Your Stokvel".

• Enter your stokvel name
• Add 3 signatories (Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer), each with name, ID number, phone, address, and region
• The registrant (you) must have an South Africa phone number for OTP verification
• Non-South Africa numbers can be used to log in but will not receive SMS notifications
• Verify your phone number with a one-time code (the other 2 admins verify when they first log in)
• Choose your package (the platform is free, optional SMS credits available)
• All 3 signatories receive an SMS with their login PIN

Step 2: Set Up Your Stokvel

Log in to the Admin Dashboard using your phone number and PIN.

• Monthly contribution: how much each member pays per month (e.g. E200)
• Registration fee: one-time joining fee (e.g. E50), or E0 if none
• Loan settings: interest rate, max term, and max amount (if your stokvel records loans)
• Financial year start: the month your stokvel's financial year begins
• Report email: where weekly Excel reports will be sent (e.g. treasurer's email)
• Modules: enable or disable features like Loans, Shares, Savings, and Reports
• Click Save & Continue when done

Step 3: Add Your Members

In the Admin Dashboard, click "+ Add Member" for each member.

• The 3 signatories from registration are already added as members, no need to re-add them
• Enter each new member's name, surname, phone number, next of kin
• Each member receives an SMS with their login PIN
• Members log in at zarstokvels.com/login.html to see their balance

Step 4: Record Payments

When a member pays (via bank deposit, EFT, or cash):

• Click on the member's name → "Record Payment"
• Enter the amount and select the month
• The system auto-allocates: registration fee first (if unpaid), then monthly contribution
• The member receives an SMS confirming their payment was recorded
• Loan repayments are recorded separately. Go to the member's loan and click "Record Loan Repayment"

💡 Record payments the same day you receive them.

Step 5: Share with Members

Send this link to your WhatsApp group:

Members log in to see their contributions, payment history, and loan balance.

Step 6: Weekly Reports

Every Sunday, the platform emails you two Excel reports:

• Weekly Activity Summary: payments received this week
• Full Status Report: member-by-member statement showing who paid and who owes

💡 Add your email in Admin Dashboard settings to receive reports.

Quick Reference

🔒 Security Tips

• Never share your admin PIN
• Reset a member's PIN immediately if their phone is lost
• Add a second admin so the stokvel isn't dependent on one person
• Review the weekly report every Sunday to catch errors

❓ Common Questions

Does the platform hold our money?
No. Your money stays in your bank account. We only record who paid what.

Can members see other members' balances?
No. Each member only sees their own.

Is there a cost?
The basic platform is free for stokvels.

What phone do I need?
Any smartphone with a browser. No app download needed.