Abstract
Like other parts of the world, South Africa has been seriously affected by the economic
recession that has brought unemployment and poverty to large numbers of people in many
regions of the world. The districts of Zwide and Kwazakhele are parts of Nelson Mandela
Bay, in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa, and are homes to working-class
households that suffer extreme hardship due to poor socioeconomic conditions. They are
excluded from participation in the mainstream economy and have no sustainable means of
supporting their families. By forming buying clubs and savings, these communities try to
alleviate their hardship. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews to gather
the views and experiences of members of the buying and saving clubs. In investigating these
clubs, this paper raises the possibility that these community initiatives could indicate the
beginnings of a solidarity economy and the possibility of creating a more just and inclusive
society in an environment characterized by unemployment, hunger, and poverty. The
research offers insights into the lives of nineteen women and one man, residents of the two
marginalized communities, and their agency in alleviating poverty and bringing about
change in their lives through the implementation of a buying club and a savings club.