Tope Ijibadejo, Nigeria Region Manager for CMTrading, Africa’s largest online broker and a leader in the international markets, gives his thoughts on how to invest in Forex and how to potentially spot Ponzi investment schemes.

“When looking for a reputable broker, there are several signs one should look out for, as forex trading can be accessed by pretty much anyone. Firstly, ensure the broker is licensed and operating under a government license or regulation that covers your country. Licensed and regulated brokers are bound to operate under set rules and standards.

“Generally speaking, this should help protect your interests. Always ensure the license that covers you is the one that is from your country of citizenship or residence. However, if your country does not regulate the operation or broker, you can still get a layer of protection by ensuring the broker is working under a known government license.

“It is also important to research the company’s track record and reviews. Reviews can be helpful but sometimes competitors pay review websites to taint the image of other companies just to look better in the public eye. For a better picture, it is more effective to find unbiased information about a broker from its existing and former clients. Find somebody who knows somebody else that has experience using the broker’s services. This might be time consuming, but it could save you a lot of time and money in the bigger picture.

“The most common scams in Nigeria are investment scams. It is rampant because there is a prevalent trend where investors try to grow their money through legitimate means online – like forex – without going through the process of understanding the basics of online trading. Unfortunately, con artists capitalise on this trend and set up scam companies that promise juicy monthly returns with guaranteed capital protection. Ignorant investors fail to investigate the validity of these bold claims and get their fingers burned.

“In most situations, to build public confidence, these companies start ponzi schemes by using part of newer investors’ capital to pay interest/ROI to the older investors. Satisfied investors are used to draft in greater participation by giving mouth-watering benefits for referral. These companies are aggressive with advertising and publicity so they can maximise and expedite exposure. Some will even go as far as securing famous social media influencers and network marketers to encourage participation. From the outside, it appears to be working and can do so for over a year, until the perpetrators either disappear with the money or start to experience a decline in new investors, which leads to the scheme crashing.

“To protect yourself against forex scams, you must understand the principles of investing in forex. Like every other business, trading forex has underlying risks. That means, no risk – no reward. Stop looking for guarantees, as you will most likely buy into lies and fall victim to unfulfilled promises.

“Investors must educate themselves as it helps them manage risk better. Profit is made only when the trader outsmarts the risk, and investors who are well informed are more likely to do so.

“It is advisable to invest your money directly with a forex broker instead of putting it in the hands of a third party. Money invested with a forex broker is accessible and withdrawable at any point in time should you no longer be confident or happy with the outcome of the investment. However, when you invest using third parties, you put yourself at their mercy. It can become frustrating, much like watching TV without a remote control to adjust volume or change stations.

"Moreover, should you decide that you have not invested wisely, you may find yourself trapped in the investment and have no choice but to await your fate. If you must utilise the service of any third party, fund your account with a broker and share your trading account login details with them so they are able to make trades on your behalf, or better still, use a copy trading solution if it is available. If you are not happy with the outcome, you can either lock out the third party by changing your password or stop copying trades. This is the type of control every investor should have.

“There are regulatory bodies that you can refer to in order to verify brokers before you trade. Check the broker’s website to confirm which license or regulations they are operating under and visit the regulator’s website to verify this claim. Every regulator has a list of the brokers they oversee on their website.

“The reason scams are so prevalent is due to a lack of regulation in some countries. Citizens will never know it all, so it is up to the government to protect them from public financial scams. Should your country not regulate forex business, it is vital that you gather enough information and eliminate ignorance before investing. This can be achieved by attending seminars, webinars, workshops or conducting comprehensive online research before making an investment. Forex scams are more common in countries without any form of licensing or regulation. Within the last decade, Nigeria has experienced several high-profile forex scams because of this.

“Trading with an offshore broker is riskier because you will not be covered in the event of bankruptcy or any other unforeseen situation. It is safer to trade with a broker that is licensed and regulated by your own government. Your government is expected to offer protection through regulation.

“Regarding Nigeria specifically, there should be a move by government to understand and regulate the forex industry (like South Africa did some years ago), seeing that there is significant interest in the forex business. Regulation will help eliminate high profile forex scams, increase investor confidence and participation from corporate entities which will ultimately grow the economy”.

For more information on CMTrading, visit their official website at www.cmtrading.com or call +27 10 500 8026 and one of their friendly staff will assist you.

CMTrading is the brand name of Global Capital Markets Trading Ltd (A Seychelles company, company no. 104785)

In 2020, big tech companies like Amazon, Apple, Google, several big gaming companies and Facebook skyrocketed in value – largely due to COVID-19. Daniel Kibel, Founder and Director of CMTrading, discusses whether these players look to be maintaining momentum in 2021. 

“Having seen the FANG stocks (Facebook, Amazon, Netflix and Google) do so well in 2020, we can only expect it to continue. There is a big ‘BUT’, though. US congress has already targeted them for being monopolies and far too big. There are threats of taxes and monopoly commissions that could affect them significantly – particularly Google and Facebook. 

“Amazon continues to grow. They are expanding in so many different directions now – like groceries for example. But as COVID dissipates, the big question is, can people wean themselves off online shopping and will they return to the supermarkets and the high streets or shopping malls? It is difficult to predict entirely, as lockdown fatigue may set in in some measure. But the online shopping boom has made convenience an everyday reality, and it’s probably unlikely to disappear anytime soon. 

“The biggest players in tech have pulled the market up. Google, Amazon, Tesla, Apple and the other mainstays continue to grow their market share. Sales are consistently going up and it is difficult to see past them. But to play Devil’s Advocate, they are potentially also the companies that could fall the hardest. These companies have real, high-stakes incomes and as they use this to build the future, there is a lot to lose too. It’s going to be an interesting ride. 

“As COVID vaccinations roll out, we need to look at a number of things. Not every country has received all their vaccinations. I think we can safely say that South Africa won’t have everyone vaccinated by the end of the year. This will probably apply to the rest of Africa, parts of Asia, certain parts of Europe and South America as well. This will have a knock-on effect in terms of big tech performance. We’ll probably see the big players continue to grow. Diversification, mergers and acquisitions will be on the menu because there is a lot of opportunity to expand into new products and markets that could be used as a competitive advantage. 

“What we may see in the near future of stand-out tech companies is a big boom in cyber security. As things consistently become more online-based, everyone from small businesses to big governments are doing everything they can to hack and access information. Cyber security companies are stepping in to curb this. 

“In closing, in many ways, the world is moving towards an ‘alternative’ economy. Cyber security is still relatively new but is critical in today’s economy and people are investing big money to protect themselves. Alternatives to meat – a different kind of tech but still very notable – are taking off. The likes of Beyond Meat have hugely grown their market share and more people in the world are turning to alternative food products that are more ‘responsible’. 

“Then, we have alternative fuel tech. Tesla has electronic cars but it’s important to remember that they aren’t the only players and they are market capped, in that they can only make so many. Other players could potentially introduce far more electric cars. If you’re watching tech investment, ‘alternative’ thinking may be the way forward in years to come”. 

For more information on CMTrading, visit their official website at www.cmtrading.com or call +27105008026, and one of their friendly staff will assist you. 

CMTrading is the brand name of Global Capital Markets Trading Ltd (A Seychelles company, company no. 104785)

As COVID-19 enters the third wave in South Africa, CMTrading, Africa’s largest forex trading broker, has changed the format of its upcoming seminar on trading. Previously scheduled for 1 July as an in-person seminar at in Sandton, the free seminar will now be hosted virtually on 4 July, and will be adding an international speaker to the programme. 

Fred Razak, CMTrading’s Chief Analyst and Senior Trading Strategist, based in Mauritius, will provide a holistic introduction to trading for anyone interested in delving into the forex market to earn extra income. For budding traders who have considered entering the world of trading but may have been unsure who to ask, the webinar is  an ideal opportunity to gain insight from an established expert on how to earn actual income through trading. 

Razak is a seasoned trading specialist with a demonstrated history of working in the financial services industry. His writing and analysis of markets have been shared and published by many reputable media outlets and he is highly skilled in asset management, securities and trading methods. 

CMTrading, an award-winning trading platform for five years in a row, with Razak, will share practical insights and methods on how to generate return on investment and generate profit in the trading environment. The course content is as follows: 

• Introduction to Trading & Terminology
• Psychology
• Trading
• Platforms
• Market Structure & Conditions
• Technical Analysis
• Market Patterns
• The “Secret Sauce”

The webinar is free to attend and attendees will all qualify for a special welcome offer. Director of Marketing for CMTrading, Jonathan Bergman, says, “Fred is an established trader who will be a hugely insightful source of information for anyone who wants a practical education about trading. This webinar provides a solid grounding in the most important trading principles and methods, and there will a be a unique opportunity to engage directly with one of our leading traders for anyone with pressing questions. In a time when earning extra income is right at the top of many people’s minds, I really encourage budding traders to come and learn from the best.” 

To sign up to attend the free webinar, send your name and email address via WhatsApp and an agent will contact you to reserve your space.

Sign up via: 071-596-0917 

Alternatively, register online here or visit https://lp2.cmtrading.com/sa-live-seminar/?a=70022 

For more information on CMTrading, visit their official website at www.cmtrading.com or call +27105008026, and one of their friendly staff will assist you. 

CM Trading is the brand name of Global Capital Markets Trading Ltd (a Seychelles company, company no. 104785).

The Impakt Fund Successfully Launches in Johannesburg, South Africa at the 12J Conference (For release after 31 January 2020) 

Many have an interest in investing in Africa-based businesses that both help the African people and deliver a financial return. The new Impakt Fund is focused on delivering just these kinds of win-win opportunities. 

31 January 2020 

The idea of solving problems while still making a profit is a remarkable and achievable one. Especially in Africa, where with experienced guidance many opportunities to support businesses with huge potential are presenting themselves. The Impakt Fund is an approved Section 12 J Company, and an impact investment platform for Africa with just this kind of powerful mission. In exciting news, The Impakt Fund recently successfully launched on January 31st, 2020 in Johannesburg, South Africa at the 12J Conference at Melrose Arch, where they presented their innovative and intriguing vision, that can revolutionize the way mindful investors approach African development. The enthusiasm surrounding the launch is high and rising. 

“We believe that business is the tool that can help to sustainably solve Africa’s problems in quite dramatic ways,” commented a spokesperson from the fund. “We had an amazing experience meeting potential investors, and businesses at the 12J Conference who share our vision and exciting mission, we look forward to connecting with more in the days and years to come.” 

Some of the world’s most impressive business successes have voiced support for this kind of initiative. A prime example is Sir Richard Branson, Founder of the Virgin Group, remarked, “Every risk is worth taking as long as it’s for a good cause and contributes to a good life.” 

The Impakt Fund is basing much of their drive around a very progressive concept that is inspiring increasing international interest and praise called the Business-as-a-Tool (BaaT) philosophy. This and more were discussed at the successful launch and The Impakt Fund continues their work to spread the BaaT message.

 The Impakt Fund is a proud initiative of the boutique management advisory firm the Grovation Group, who are trusted advisors for organizations looking for effective and innovative ways to solve the world’s problems. The Grovation Group is based in Cape Town, South Africa. For more information be sure to visit The Impakt Fund at http://www.impaktfund.com.

It seems to be standard practice that at the end of every year, financially savvy investment guru’s give us their take on what they think the investment landscape for the following year will yield.  Predicting the future direction of financial markets is fraught with left and right turns. This year is no different, and even though nobody has a crystal ball, based on what 2019 has yielded to date, Daniel Kibel, Founder of CM Trading, gives us his take on what he thinks 2020 will look like.

Looking abroad, massive events have been dominating the global investment landscape for the last few years. These events are going to substantially change the way investors approach investment. The election of Boris Johnson has cemented the fact that Brexit is definitely going to happen. What is important to consider now, is how this will fundamentally change your investment journey over 2020. The second important global event is the 2020 Presidential elections, and amidst impeachment woes, whether Trump will still be a key player? Both of these international events are sure keep the markets interesting, to say the least, for 2020. Closer to home, investors must keep in mind the Eskom issues, SAA and the future of the South African president Cyril Ramaphosa.

Moving away from the news making events that will dominate 2020, an aging worldwide population coupled with the rise of a middle class in emerging markets leads me to believe there will be a shift in consumer habits and tastes over the next 10 years. As things go generally, aged investors are more sensible, more investment savvy and they usually have more money to invest. With pension plans around the world falling short of the lifetime expectations of those who have paid them their entire lives, investors will need to be much wiser in their choices. Both locally and globally, people must ensure that they have a long-term plan for their financial stability in retirement.

Consumers are increasingly focused on the many and broad implications of what is happening in terms of sustainability. A massive shift has taken place towards meat alternatives specifically, and the investment opportunities in companies that offer these alternatives is huge. The investment stalwarts such as Coca Cola, Disney, Amazon etc. will remain solid, but an influx of new companies have raised massive awareness and people are always comfortable to invest in something that is creating ripples. Alternative energy and alternative meat sources are definitely creating ripples, so they will definitely be top of mind for new investment opportunities.

Within our borders, according to the Where to Invest in Africa 2020 report, South Africa has fallen to third place. It’s no secret that South Africa is facing a problem.  The currency is unstable and the problems faced by the leadership is not inspiring investor confidence. The impact this has had is a complete lack of funds in the country. There are many more attractive African markets that are available to investors, which has an effect on the dollar rand which rolls over to the economy, making imports a lot more expensive, in turn making life more expensive. Investment players must keep this top of mind and South African investors should be certainly be following global trends when making their 2020 investment decisions. You cannot invest if you’re not aware of and following global trends. Fact. Global trends lead the world, but South Africa is part of world. The world is a very small place these days and one thing we can all bank on is the fact that if something makes waves in England, for example, the waves will be felt in South Africa. As an investor you can’t ignore the rest of the world, especially when playing in a market as small as South Africa’s.

In terms of investment trends in 2020, I don’t see many changes on the horizon. Investors will still be interested in trading gold, trading Euro Dollar, oil, the NASDAQ etc. I do think people will still be leaning towards South African stocks, but I also think there is a growing degree of wariness. People who have traditionally invested in SA stocks are holding on and waiting to see what’s happening internationally. The interest in bitcoin and other digital currencies has definitely gone down a lot and people seem to be moving away from them.

When it comes to the South African economy, we are going to have to focus heavily on that before we can even consider investing abroad. Even if there is a huge upturn in the world’s economy, we are a long way behind. The problems with Eskom are case in point. I would suggest that SA investors should absolutely be looking for global investment opportunities. The SA market is simply not stable enough and there are so many unknowns, it would be a complete miss for investors to only keep things local.

It’s not all doom and gloom though, a huge positive is that the SA investor is a lot more aware than they were five years ago. They are a lot savvier in global markets and that is certainly going to continue. The final thing I can say to anyone wanting to invest is ‘don’t shut your eyes’. Keep them open as to what is happening not only in SA’s economy but also keep a firm eye on what’s happening around the world. What is creating opportunity for investors? Certainly Brexit; maybe look at trading against the pound. Watch the relationship between America and China; that’s going to have a huge effect on the dollar. Just carry on learning because you literally have a smorgasbord of information right at your fingertips.

With rugby mania reaching fever pitch, there has never been a more thrilling time to announce that Springbok fly-half Elton Jantjies is the new brand ambassador, for the next six months, for online trading company CM Trading. It might seem like an unlikely pairing at first, but Jantjies’ approach on the field pretty much echoes CM Trading’s approach to investment, and there is nothing ordinary about either.

"We are very excited about this new partnership with the Elton Jantjies,” says Daniel Kibel, CM Tradings co-founder. “As Africa’s largest and best-known online broker, it’s a natural fit to be associated with one of our most enigmatic young sports stars. Elton’s lust for life, the way he instinctively plays the game and the calculated risks he takes both on and off the field are all qualities that we hold in high regard. We are truly proud to have him represent our brand, both locally and internationally.

”As a self-professed risk taker, Jantjies steers very clear of the “safe side of the street”. Always pushing boundaries, he has absolutely no desire to spend time wondering what might have been. “Life is all about taking calculated risks”, he says. “If you take a risk and it pays off you will be happy, if you don’t you will always wonder what if?”. A mindset that not only aligns perfectly with the ever-changing investment landscape, but that is also very similar to Kibels, who says, “Your funds will give you absolutely no returns sitting tucked away in your bank account, in fact, it’s safe to say that you’re losing money with each day that passes. Why not grab the opportunity to actually do something with your money, you may have an unexpected outcome, but at least you took the chance”.

Jantjies took some time off during his busy training schedule in Japan to give us his take on this new partnership, as well as his thoughts on handling his finances and how to approach investment opportunities.

How did you come to be involved with CM Trading?

I have always had a keen interest in wealth creation and creating new revenue streams, CM Trading is the top broker in Africa, so it was a natural fit.

Do you use the CM Trading platform and if so, what do you like most about it?

I am learning how to trade through CM Trading and their user-friendly approach.

Do you feel that there are any parallels between the rugby field and the financial playing field?

For sure, although completely different, both require intense dedication. You have to invest the time, continually practice and never stop learning to reach the top.

How important do you think it is to stick to your strategy?

I think it’s very important to decide on a strategy and once you have it set in your mind you need to focus, stick to it and give it time to materialise. With that being said though, it is very important that you are able to pivot if required. 

What advice would you give a friend who tells you that they’re interested in investing in the latest “get rich quick” investment idea?

Just to do their homework properly, look at all the angles, speak to people in the know. If something seems too good to be true, it probably is.

If you could offer some personal advice to young athletes on investing for the future what would it be?

Stick to your budgets, don’t overextend yourself, don’t go and buy vanity things. Someone once told me if you cannot afford it twice don’t buy it, which is thinking that I apply in my own life. It might not always be glamorous but look for options to save for that rainy day, because if and when it comes, you will thank yourself.

Sound investment often requires a lot of research. How important is it to you to go into a match well prepared in terms of understanding your opponent? Do you spend a lot of time researching your opponents beforehand, or do you feel that you’d rather just face them on the field and take it as it comes?

We analyse our opponents down to every last aspect until we know as much as possible about what can be expected.  When you’re playing at the highest level, you cannot afford to not be prepared for what your opponent is bringing to the game. I would say that the same applies when it comes to your money. Know and understand the playing field and what opponents are doing out there. There truly is no such thing as knowing too much about what you could be up against.

Finally, have you learnt any important life lessons on the field that you use regularly, in everyday life?

The only thing I can say is to just enjoy your time out there and do your best – this goes for life as well. 

This partnership is certainly going to be something to keep an eye on. You don’t simply score over 1 000 Super Rugby points and lead your team to a multitude of consecutive finals from the fly-half position if there isn’t something special about you. It will be interesting to see what this young maverick has up his sleeve on both the rugby front and the investment front.

It’s staggering to think that forecasters have predicted that by 2025 the global cannabis industry is expected to reach $146 billion, with the total market value of the South African cannabis industry raking in about $1.8 billion. These are the numbers being lobbied around and South Africa’s forward-thinking stance towards the 5-pointed leaf sets it up nicely to become a major player in the international market.

Since its legalisation at the end of 2018, the cannabis industry has proven to be an emerging market, giving South Africa the opportunity to run with the big dogs in this exciting new growth sector. Tito Mboweni even went so far as to say that policy changes in the industry can very well result in a potential source of revenue for SA in his Budget Speech.

With Statistics SA recently revealing that unemployment is not on the decline, it certainly is an opportune time to unlock the economic benefits, as well as the resulting job creation opportunities, that this industry presents. According to the New Frontier Data report the annual cannabis consumption rate in Africa is 11.4% while the global average is only 6% which bodes well for one of their Sustainable Development Goals which is to “promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all”. The cannabis industry has the potential to create work opportunities for both low-skilled and high-skilled workers, it said, due to the fact that cannabis businesses will require management staff, administrative staff, manufacturing staff, agricultural operations and retail operations. In the United States, 321 744 jobs were created in the cannabis industry; and 35% were in retail operations.

So, with all the above in mind, the question at the forefront of every investors mind is whether or not to invest in the South African cannabis industry?

The collective word on the street is yes. If you’re looking to invest on the ground floor of one of the potentially largest markets globally, now’s the perfect time. Many companies are jumping on the cannabis bandwagon, one of which is CanbiGold, a South African holding company that has invested into several companies across the cannabis value chain and is offering early stage investors preferential share blocks at R500 000 per block. These are convertible at a 3 to 1 ratio once CanbiGold is listed. In Canada the listed cannabis sector has a market capitalisation of more than R500 billion. CanbiGold hopes to list on the Canadian Stock Exchange in the next 18 months to two years and possible a secondary listing on the ZAR X, a South African stock exchange. This is only one example of the investment opportunities that are budding across the sector.

Be wary of getting caught high and dry

As exciting as this whole new world of cannabis investment is, it’s important to not get caught up in the hype and invest without thinking. Right now, the buyers of cannabis shares are mesmerised by the potentially bright future that the landscape presents. Up until now, there hasn’t been any public cannabis related listing on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), yet. But that is set to change any day now. One of the biggest companies on the JSE by market capitalisation, Anheuser Busch is invested in the marijuana industry, and just like alcohol, the odds are that cannabis will sell, sending shares skyrocketing. But we do believe in the old adage of what goes up must come down, so maybe it might be pertinent to keep an eye on the market and see what happens as the legislation around the product changes. After all, you wouldn’t want to see your investment going up in smoke, would you? 

OPINION PIECE FROM CM TRADINGCONTRIBUTOR: DANIEL KIBEL, FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR CM TRADING

Sources

• http://www.capetalk.co.za/articles/338910/how-dagga-could-become-a-cash-cow-for-south-africa-s-economy
• https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2019-05-24-cannabis-can-create-jobs-and-grow-the-economy-new-report-argues/
• https://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/547/192479.html
• https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/cannabis-industry-welcomed-with-open-arms-by-city-of-cape-town/
• https://businesstech.co.za/news/business/323689/south-africa-is-on-the-cusp-of-its-own-booming-and-legal-cannabis-industry/
• https://www.businessinsider.co.za/prohibition-partners-report-on-cannabis-in-africa-raises-irrigation-and-hydroponics-concerns-2019-3
• https://www.iol.co.za/business-report/economy/a-considered-approach-to-cannabis-investment-26708473

Questions that are most probably top of mind for a multitude of foreign investors is ‘Why South Africa and why now?’, and one could be forgiven for being unsure as to the answer.

It is no secret that the South African markets have been in a state of flux. In his first SONA last year, Cyril Ramaphosa promised “a major push this year to encourage significant investment in the economy”. Pivotal to this push, foreign investment from firms and individual investors outside of our borders was necessary. But, taking into account the dismal financial results reported by Moody’s in Q1 2019, will President Ramaphosa be able to make the necessary changes and reforms to help economic growth accelerate to as high as 3% by 2022?

According to the group, in a macro-analysis released at the beginning of June 2019, the odds that South Africa may experience a technical recession are high. This, in a large part, can be contributed to the widespread power outages experienced so far in 2019 that have had substantial negative ripple-effects, particularly for the mining and manufacturing sectors.

The task of resuscitating South Africa’s economy is certainly an onerous one, with the reality being that now is the time to dig deep as a country and harness all available resources. But it isn’t all doom and gloom on the investment front. With the recent ANC election win, under the leadership of Ramaphosa, hopes are high for renewed reforms that could potentially tackle the unemployment rates and provide a re-energised push to ignite growth.

Whilst financial markets are generally positive towards South Africa at the moment, an underlying sentiment that seems to be weighing on investors is whether government can effectively address the Eskom issue. After more than a decade of increasingly slow growth, and an exponential rise in joblessness, immediate policy priorities from Ramaphosa are a crucial first step to addressing South Africa’s complex economic challenges.

So, the question still remains – Why South Africa and Why Now?

The outcome of the election has been in line with market expectations and sentiment towards South African markets remains tentatively positive. The announcement of a drastically smaller, reshuffled cabinet this month is also bound to alter our economic course. Add to that Moody’s decision to skip the much-anticipated assessment of SA’s sovereign credit rating until November 2019, and it seems that for now, South African markets have been granted a reprieve, albeit a small one.

The Rand is expected to weaken over the next few weeks both in terms of the USD and the Pound rate, but the dominant position of the South African economy on the African continent, and the liquidity of the Rand on international markets still make the ZAR the currency of choice for investors seeking African exposure.

Although things look precarious, investors shouldn’t throw in the towel just yet. A look at analysts’ consensus forecasts (according to Thomson Reuters) on individual shares (based only on price forecasts, i.e. excluding dividends and adjusted according to their weight in the index) in the FTSE/JSE Top40, shows that analysts still expect the Top40 Index to be trading 21.6% higher from current levels (48 465 as at 28 May 2019).

As the famous John Templeton said, “Bull markets are born on pessimism, grown on scepticism, mature on optimism, and die on euphoria. The time of maximum pessimism is often the best time to buy, and the time of maximum optimism is often the best time to sell.”

Sources:

https://businesstech.co.za/news/finance/321905/high-chance-of-recession-in-south-africa-moodys/

https://www.poundsterlinglive.com/zar/11501-the-rand-is-a-sell-says-bank-of-america-technical-analyst

https://www.fin24.com/Economy/moodys-delay-is-good-news-for-the-rand-say-analysts-20190330-2

https://www.fin24.com/Economy/South-Africa/moodys-likely-to-keep-sas-credit-rating-at-investment-grade-post-election-analyst-20190516

https://www.moneyweb.co.za/news/economy/the-rand-isnt-sas-share-price-anymore/

https://www.fin24.com/Finweek/Investment/is-now-the-right-time-to-sell-your-shares-20190605 

A community-focused residential and commercial village in the Stellenbosch winelands has been judged as South Africa’s best mixed-use property development, placing it in line for one of the most prestigious property awards in the world.

Nooitgedacht Village, which has attracted investment of over R1billion since it’s 2013 launch, was voted the country’s best by the African Property Awards, and will now vie for the title of Best Mixed-Use Development in Africa at the International Property Awards, known as the “Oscars” of the property industry. The village is part of the historic Nooitgedacht Estate and combines Old Cape and Bo-Kaap architecture with modern commercial and retail components.

Property expert Toni Enderli describes the village as “a community model of the future where you can safely live, work and play without getting into a car.” “It’s authentic, sustainable and affordable. Apartments start from R1.4-million and amenities include a hotel, restaurant, medical centre and gym, all located around a two-hectare eco wetland park.

Residents also have access to the 200ha Nooitgedacht farm for cycling, running, picnicking and more.” The village is up against developments from the rest of Africa, Dubai and Arabia, judged by a panel of 80 property experts and chaired by members of the UK’s House of Lords. Winners will be announced at a gala event in London on 12 June, attended by developer, Werner Wirth.

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For media information, contact Hudah Levendall or Kauthar Manuel on 021-785-3683 or 060-983-5380.

Find images here or paste this link directly into your browser: http://bit.ly/2LQaeUW

 The Transport Sector Retirement Fund (TSRF) today announced its support of the 2019 Hollard Highway Heroes competition to search for South Africa’s best truck driver. The TSRF was represented by Mandla Nkosi, a member of the Fund’s board of trustees, at the official launch of the Highway Heroes competition in Johannesburg.  

“The TSRF is proud to be associated with this initiative to recognise South Africa’s best truck driver and we encourage our employers and members to enter the competition and show the country the grit, determination, professionalism and commitment with which our truckers tackle their jobs,” said Nkosi at the launch.

“This initiative will help elevate the good standing of the trucking industry, whilst building capacity, promoting road safety and recognising individual excellence.”

TSRF is committed to responsible investment for the benefit of our members

The TSRF is acutely aware of the occupational demands placed on its members in the transport industry.The Fund provides retirement savings for 70 000 members from 3000 employers earning their bread and butter in this industry.

“The majority of our members, at least 70%, are truck drivers, transporting goods on our country’s road networks,” said Joe Letswalo, the Transport Sector Retirement Fund’s principal officer.“We are keenly aware of the numerous challenges our members face on a daily basis to earn their living. In this regard, the TSRF is committed to responsible investment to not only help grow our members’ retirement benefits (and death- and disability cover), but to also help ensure their well-being and safety while they are still gainfully employed.”

Truck crashes cost the transport industry up to R 18-billion annually and have a devastating effect on individuals, their families, transport operators, aligned industries and indeed the whole country.

“Four years ago, we determined that good-quality truck stops are sorely lacking along SA’s major transport nodes, and given that a major cause of road accidents is driver fatigue, we launched a strategy to ensure that our members, and indeed the broader transport community, would have transport facilities to park and sleep safely,” explained Letswalo.

The TSRF entered into a 50/50 joint venture with the Deysel Family’s Highway Group to expand the Harrismith Highway Junction Truck Stop into a multi-brand, high-end park and sleep facility providing auxiliary services to truckers which include restaurants, primary healthcare and recreational facilities, warehouse space and a vehicle service station (workshop). The Highway Junction Truck Stop is now the biggest and busiest facility of its kind in Africa.

Following its success, the TSRF is in the process of developing similar hubs along major routes throughout the country. Sites have already been earmarked near Cape Town, East London, Colesberg and Musina for project completion during 2020-21.

“Our investment in truck stops brought us closer to our members and provided a keen understanding of the challenges they face. In this regard, their safety is always top of mind. In an attempt to facilitate the sharing of knowledge and enhancing overall road safety, the TSRF entered into a partnership with Arrive Alive to support the transport sector through pro-active measures to mitigate the risks our members face daily whilst performing their duties,” continued Letswalo.

This partnership brought the TSRF to Hollard Highway Heroes Competition.

Hollard Highway Heroes Competition – searching for South Africa’s best truck driver 

For the first time since the inception of the competition in 2015, the Hollard Specialist Insurance Company, Hollard Trucking (this year) opened its Highway Heroes competition to all truck drivers in South Africa, affording the Transport Sector Retirement Fund and other partners the opportunity to come on board to recognise trucking excellence.

For the duration of the competition, the driving behaviour of entrants in the competition will be closely monitored by the Hollard Trucking Bureau through the utilisation of fleet tracking technology. Through careful monitoring, a pro-active driver-centric approach is followed to manage risk from speeding to fatigue, harsh braking patterns and other high-risk alarms to ultimately improve driver decision-making and actions. 

“The TSRF is committed to help the transport sector to move towards better futures. In this endeavour, we are convinced that initiatives such as the Hollard Highway Heroes competition will go a long way to encourage skills development and excellence in the industry, which in turn will bring about systemic change and improved safety standards, lowering individual risks and help to make our country’s roads safer for all,” said Letswalo.

“Every day, on the roads, our members carry the responsibility of not only keeping themselves safe, but to also safely transport the goods entrusted in their care, ensuring their employers’ assets are protected, and their fellow road users are considered. Our truckers keep the country’s economy moving forward and this competition helps to recognise the key strategic role they fulfil.”

Entries to the competition are now open and will close on 31 May 2019. Thereafter drivers will be monitored until 31 July when the top 50 drivers will be chosen and monitored again for a further 45 days. The winner will be announced on 14 November 2019 and will walk away with R 100 000.00 in prize money.