Young South Africans school the market — JSE Investment Challenge April winners announced

Daily Maverick

4 days ago

Every year, the Johannesburg Stock Exchange Investment Challenge puts South Africa's sharpest young minds to the test – and every year, a crop of winners rises to the top. The April 2025 results are in and the future of finance is looking bright and, in most cases, still in school uniform.
With four risk-flavoured categories to choose from – income, equity, speculator and ETF/ETN (exchange traded notes/exchange traded funds) – each month brings new winners, while the race for the annual crown keeps everyone on their toes. It's the ultimate financial boot camp, minus the push-ups, but with plenty of number crunching.
From rural roots to repeat victories
Mpumelelo Secondary School, renowned for sweeping all five top positions in the schools' income category last year and repeated victories over the past several years, has once again proven its mettle in 2025. For the month of April, the Mpumelelo team, The Brave Ones, secured first place in the income category with an impressive portfolio growth of R10,139.73.
Grade 11 learner, Mthombeni Nokubonga Naomi expressed her excitement: 'I felt ecstatic after winning, but I couldn't have done it without the support of my mentors.'
The journey was far from easy. The team faced numerous challenges, including coordinating meeting times and locations. 'Sometimes it was difficult to decide where to gather,' Naomi said.
However, the biggest obstacle was limited internet access and data shortages.
'We supported each other by sharing devices, and Mr Mtsweni, our teacher, helped by providing devices and assisting us with logging into the JSE platform,' she added.
When selecting shares, the team adopted a careful strategy.
'We first checked the news – whether company-specific or external factors – and analysed charts of different companies to evaluate their growth potential,' explained Mfundo Mahlangu, a Grade nine learner from The Brave Ones.
Equity experts in action
Grey College's team, the profit predators, clinched the top spot in the equity category with a 3.92% gain. Their strategy – a laser focus on mining and banking sector companies, backed by diligent research and a few helpful hints from The Money Show with Stephen Grootes. 'Luckily, the market turned in our favour and we managed a good gain in profits,' the team said. Sometimes, fortune really does favour the bold and well-prepared.
Speculating for success
In the university speculator category, the UP Capital team from the University of Pretoria – Brett Thomson and Joshua McKay – secured victory with a portfolio growth of 12.65%. Thomson, already a veteran of the challenge, credited his win to careful risk management and a flexible strategy. The same team (plus one extra team member) won the overall ETF/ETN category in the JSE Investment Challenge 2024, walking away with R30,000.
'With all the risk in the market, it has been important to be both long and short to outperform the market. What I learnt is how to position the size of different sectors of the market according to current market risk,' Thomson explained.
Catch up
April's honour roll
Schools
The Jade Hustlers of Stellenberg High School in the Western Cape won the speculator category, with growth of 7.19%.
The BGC – Skillies of Hoërskool Stellenbosch in Western Cape won the ETF/ETN category with 5.65% growth.
The Brave Ones of Mpumelelo Secondary School in Mpumalanga won the income category, with a growth of R10,139,73.
The Profit Predators of Grey College in the Free State won the equity category, with 3.92% growth.
Universities
UP Assegai of the University of Pretoria in Gauteng won the ETF/ETN category with 12.13% growth.
UP Capital of the University of Pretoria in Gauteng won the speculator category with 12.65% growth.
schools.jse.co.za for schools and university.jse.co.za for universities.
Keep in mind, applying late means you'll be eligible only for the September monthly results – not the annual finals – so it pays to sign up early and get a head start on the competition. The next champion could be you. DM