Now in its 47th year, the JSE Investment Challenge has become synonymous with making the world of investing in the stock exchange, accessible to South Africa’s youth. Last year the Investment Challenge attracted more than 23 000 participants, predominantly from rural areas.
The challenge enables learners and students to understand the fundamentals of investing by trading JSE-listed shares on a virtual trading platform. Each school and university team is given a virtual amount of R1 million to invest on a simulated trading platform that mimics the livestock market but without any real risks.
This year’s Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) Investment Challenge winners were announced on the exchange’s Facebook and YouTube channels because of the pandemic. The ceremony was attended by hundreds across the country including all the participants, their families and friends, teachers, lecturers, mentors and teacher catalysts.
Thousands of high school learners and university students showed resilience and delivered an outstanding performance at this year’s competition. The teams battled for the top spots and broke new records even in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic which saw schools and universities closing for the bulk of the academic year due to South Africa’s national lockdown restrictions.
“The pandemic made it necessary for us to be agile. The impact of Covid-19 required us to be innovative and find ways to work with the participants and mentors on virtual platforms. Social media platforms which are easily accessible such as Facebook and WhatsApp enabled us to reach all of the learners and students,” said Idris Seedat, Head of Transformation and CSI at the JSE.
Seedat praised the learners from Mpumelelo Secondary School in Mpumalanga, who emerged victorious in the 2020 JSE Investment Challenge income portfolio category. “For the first time, we have had one school win all five prizes in one category. The success of Mpumelelo Secondary School shows that challenging circumstances and lack of resources should have no bearing on one’s destiny in life,” said Seedat.
The winners of the schools’ game walk away with prizes to the value of R180,000, while the winners of the universities game win prizes valued at R60,000 and a trip to an international stock exchange. Each winner gets a head start to build a secure financial future with a Satrix ETF investment, which enables them to grow their winnings through smart investment decisions.
“2020 has certainly not been an ordinary year the world over and to see the tenacity at which the participants played this year’s game, and their investment strategies during times of volatility give us confidence that in these learners and students South Africa has exceptional future leaders and investors,” continued Seedat.
Winners of the 2020 Investment Challenge are:
The Schools Challenge:
Income Portfolio
First place: The Queens, Mpumelelo Secondary School, Mpumalanga
Second Place: The Winnerss, Mpumelelo Secondary School, Mpumalanga
Third Place: MP Stars, Mpumelelo Secondary School, Mpumalanga
Fourth Place: MP Unstoppable Winners, Mpumelelo Secondary School, Mpumalanga
Fifth Place: 2020 Winners, Mpumelelo Secondary School, Mpumalanga
Equity Portfolio:
First Place: CETT, The Settlers High, Western Cape
Second Place: SMIT_77, Hoërskool DR Malan, Gauteng
Third Place: The bizzar investors – ACCP, Acudeo College Crystal Park, Gauteng
Fourth Place: Ma’at – ACCP, Acudeo College Crystal Park, Gauteng
Fifth Place: Cash Crusaders, Lawson Brown High School, Eastern Cape
Speculator Portfolio:
First Place: Prophets of Profit, Reddam House Durbanville, Western Cape
Second Place: Jasons Wealth, Orient Islamic School, Kwa-Zulu Natal
Third Place: Cleaver for President – ACCP, Acudeo College Crystal Park, Gauteng
Fourth Place: PBHS Jackboys, Pretoria Boys High School, Gauteng
Fifth Place: Black Labour – White Wealth – ACCP, Acudeo College Crystal Park, Gauteng
Winning teams in the University Speculator portfolio:
First place: Piker, University of Cape Town
Second place: Inkunzi Traders, UNISA – JHB
Third place: US1_StellenboschBoys, University of Stellenbosch
