National Savings Month targets Rural South Africa

Rural and semi-urban communities across South Africa will benefit from a targeted financial education campaign from July to October, thanks to a partnership between the South African Savings Institute (SASI) and Metropolitan.

Kicking off during National Savings Month in July, the Community Savings Campaign will see Metropolitan and SASI visiting various communities in Limpopo, North West, Mpumalanga and the Western Cape to equip consumers with basic knowledge on household budgets, managing their debt as well as providing information on how to choose the right savings products based on their financial situations.

National Savings Month is an awareness campaign run by SASI and was launched in April 2001 by the then Finance Minister, Trevor Manuel. SASI is a non-profit organisation that aims to instill a culture of saving amongst all South Africans.

This year's theme is 'Invest in financial knowledge, save your future'.

Belinda Faulkner, Brand Executive at Metropolitan, says this partnership is very much aligned with the company's strategy around community engagement and empowering local communities to confidently shape their financial future.

"As a business, Metropolitan has travelled an incredible journey with our customers. We have been connecting with and providing financial advice and products to them for over a 100 years. This type of sponsorship allows us to engage with our market on a very personal level. It's about guiding them to take the first step and how to stay committed to their financial goals. We want to teach them that, by just saving a little each month and choosing the right financial products to suit their needs, they can plan for their future."

"It is SASI's mission to encourage all South Africans to work towards financial independence. Developing a strong savings culture amongst communities and therefore a high savings rate will not only assist South Africans to secure their financial future, it boosts the economic growth of the country," says SASI CEO Elizabeth Lwanga-Nanziri.

The first workshop will be held in Klerksdorp in North West on 3 July 2013