More than 66 000 participants took part in the JSE’s Investment Challenge last year. University and college participants included about 7 700 students in at least 3 000 teams from 110 institutions, and almost 860 schools fielded about 18 000 teams during the competition, from 17 March to 19 September 2025.

The JSE Investment Challenge, which has been running for more than 50 years, equips young SA investors with practical market experience through virtual R1 million portfolios. Open to high school learners and tertiary students, the Challenge allows participants to trade JSE-listed financial instruments under real market conditions within a simulated environment, developing hands-on skills in investment strategy and portfolio management.

For the JSE, scaling the programme beyond 66 000 participants while maintaining quality and relevance is crucial, says Idris Seedat, the JSE’s Head of Transformation and CSI.  ‘We are scaling the programme by strengthening the support ecosystem around participants. This includes expanding our national mentorship programme and increasing the number of teacher-training sessions to ensure educators feel confident and equipped to deliver the material. By empowering teachers and mentors, we can grow participation responsibly while protecting the quality, relevance and integrity of the programme,’ he says.

Seedat says it is key to balance realistic market dynamics with accessibility for newcomers, especially from under-resourced communities. ‘The Investment Challenge mirrors real-market conditions by using authentic end-of-day JSE pricing across all four games – income, equity, speculator and ETF/ETN [exchange traded funds/notes]. This ensures realism while still offering an accessible entry point through the Income Game, where learners can trade familiar companies from the Top 40 index. The structure allows beginners to build foundational confidence before progressing to more complex strategies,’ he says.

‘We are also actively working to remove access barriers for learners in under-resourced communities. A key initiative under way is our negotiation with a major telecommunications provider to zero-rate the JSE Investment Challenge app from 2026. Removing data costs will be transformative for thousands of learners who currently cannot afford mobile data, ensuring financial education reaches those who need it most.’

While the digital platform has constantly been tweaked to stay abreast of tech developments, the JSE is also exploring future enhancements. ‘The digital platform has evolved into a safe, intuitive and risk-free environment where learners can test ideas and make mistakes without real-world consequences. We are exploring new ways to incorporate artificial intelligence [AI] to personalise learning, streamline research and align with how young people consume information today. Our goal is to continuously innovate so that the platform stays at the forefront of technology and remains engaging for future generations.’

Seedat says the JSE has increased its outreach efforts in rural areas, so more schools receive training, exposure and encouragement to participate. ‘Our long-term vision is to see every school, college and university in SA participate annually. The goal is to ensure the country’s youth are empowered with strong financial literacy, a practical understanding of markets and the confidence to make informed financial decisions. As the economy evolves, the programme will continue to adapt – expanding digital accessibility, integrating new asset classes and aligning content with the skills required for South Africa’s future workforce.’

While the Investment Challenge concentrates on high schools and tertiary institutions, the JSE has in more recent years launched the Virtual Trading Game (VTG) for adult South Africans. It also teaches investing on the JSE and the larger role that such investment plays in the country’s economy. It too has grown from strength to strength and has kept pace with the influence of technology on the markets by emphasising digital finance, AI and fraud prevention as its 2025 theme.

‘Last year’s theme aligned with the World Federation of Exchanges’ global investor-education campaign, which supports IOSCO’s World Investor Week,’ says Seedat. ‘These themes are critical internationally and locally, as technology-driven markets require young people to understand digital finance, responsible online behaviour and how to protect themselves against fraud in an increasingly digital world.’

He says the exchange is planning for the expansion of the VTG by integrating it more deeply into the JSE’s broader investor initiatives, giving it a more permanent footprint across the country. ‘The goal is to broaden its reach and ensure more South Africans are exposed to investment education in a fun, practical and accessible way.’

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