Dear Stakeholder

As we commemorated the Sharpeville Massacre that took place 65 years ago on 21 March, I contemplated the collective efforts made by ASISA members through the ASISA Academy on transformation initiatives over the years.  While the work of transformation is often challenging, it is also rewarding when one sees impact. As you will read in the Impact Stories on our website, many of our alumni who attended our internships from as early as 2011 are already making their mark in the industry.

It is particularly rewarding when ASISA Academy alumni reach out offering to mentor young graduates or to present on programmes they were once a part of. It goes without saying that this development gives one a sense that we have come full circle. This is key to sustainability and indicative of the impact of the investments made in them by sponsors. It seems fitting that in Human Rights Month we should have turned this corner, where we see the generation that has been uplifted wanting to take time out of their busy careers to empower the next generation.

GRADUATE PROGRAMMES

Independent Financial Advisor (IFA) Internship

Financial planning is a profession, not a job, says Stephen Cole, co-owner and director of Core Wealth, a long-term partner of the ASISA Academy Independent Financial Advisor (IFA) Internship). He adds: “Becoming a financial planner requires a lot of hard work and much blood sweat and tears.” Read more about how Core Wealth creates compelling career paths for the IFA interns they host. Read the full story

Core Wealth team members who came through the ASISA Academy’s Independent Financial Advisor (IFA) Internship, along with one current intern. From left: Lihle Kelembe (Associate Advisor: Group Benefits), Zolisa Maduba (Financial Advisor), Aviwe Mankayi (Associate Advisor), Luzuko Sigiva (Intern Administrator), and Matthew Beelders (CFA charter holder, Investment Analyst).

IFA Internship alumnus Lebogang Koloti knows about blood, sweat and tears, and a path that is not always linear. But, as he says, ‘the role chose me’. Read his story: I didn't choose the role, the role chose me

Lebogang Koloti has come full circle to be an IFA at Gradidge Mahura Investments.

Fezeka Graduate Programme

As the 2025 cohort of the Fezeka Graduate Programme enters month three of this journey for high potential, black South African female graduates seeking a career in investment management, the 2024 graduates are preparing to join the job market.

The 2025 cohort of the Fezeka Graduate Programme recently started this journey.

The graduates in the 2024 cohort will be available to start work from June after completing their 15-month structured development programme that provides a powerful combination of theoretical knowledge, professional development and practical work experience at leading investment management businesses. Asset managers interested in interviewing these graduates can reach out to us for CVs. Please email Zubeida Ebrahim: zebrahim@asisaacademy.org.za

Members of the 2024 cohort of the Fezeka Graduate Programme, who are now getting ready for employment.

IMACS@TSIBA

There are still opportunities for companies to sponsor the academic component of the upcoming IMACS@TSIBA Internship for promising Bachelor in Business Administration (BBA) Finance students at TSIBA Business School, which runs from July 2025 to June 2026. A total of 231 graduates have come through this programme, which the ASISA Academy has been running in partnership with TSIBA since 2011.

This Internship connects companies with high-potential undergraduate students at TSIBA, the Cape-based private higher education institution that has just celebrated its 21^st anniversary. Students participate in the ASISA Academy’s adapted Investment Management & Client Servicing Course, which provides a powerful combination of theoretical knowledge and work-readiness input.

The cost per student on the programme, which qualifies as a Category B on the Learning Programme Matrix, is R19,500 excluding VAT. We strongly urge companies to consider making a contribution of R58,500 excluding VAT, which covers the fees of three students. Companies who are interested in sponsoring, please click here to express your interest.

TSIBA students from the fourteenth cohort of the IMACS@TSIBA Internship, which began in July 2024, will be completing their Industry internships between August and November 2025.

SHORT COURSES

UCT Investment Management Industry (IMI) Short Course

This month we piloted the UCT Investment Management Industry (IMI) Short Course, which is designed to give an overview of the financial services world to new employees, especially those who come from different sectors. Combining the essentials of the Collective Investment Schemes and Investment Management Courses, this 6-day in-person course at the ASISA Academy’s Cape Town offices is a perfect introduction for graduates or new entrants to our sector. The UCT- endorsed course gives employees who work in roles, such as software development or compliance, an overview of the industry, helping them to see where their team fits into the ecosystem.

The course was well-received by the nine delegates from various ASISA member companies – whose roles include Business Analyst, Compliance Manager and Portfolio Administrator. They gave feedback including “well-structured lesson plan” and “insightful discussion points”. Delegates’ comments about Programme Champions Anton Berkovitz and Russell du Bois and the various industry presenters who covered different topics on the course included “the presenters demonstrated deep expertise in their respective fields”, “knowledge and practical examples resonated strongly with my day-to-day responsibilities”.

The course is conducted in two parts, one focusing on the landscape, legislation and products, and the second on the investment management and operations space. The next course runs on August 13, 14, 15 and 18, 19, 20 in Johannesburg. This course is available for delivery inhouse upon request. Email us for more info.

Member companies are encouraged to get in touch so that we can tailor our library of material into bespoke courses for your staff. Whether the need is to cover a core topic around investment management, or other key areas, such as compliance and reporting, understanding their role within the ecosystem is informative as well as empowering.

Delegates who attended the UCT Investment Management Industry (IMI) Short Course in Cape Town.

Recommissioning of the UCT Life Insurance Underwriters Short Course

There are still a few spaces available on the UCT Life Insurance Underwriters’ Short Course, a course involving mainly self-paced learning and seven online masterclasses. The course, running from 24 April to 27 October, comprises six modules as well as various assessments and assignments. Enrol here before 10 April.

RETIREMENT FUND TRUSTEE EDUCATION

Cybersecurity and Retirement Funds course

The purpose of this course is to provide South African Retirement Fund Trustees with a deeper understanding of cybersecurity and cyber resilience, and how these concepts apply to retirement funds. By examining cybersecurity threats, legislation and real-world case studies, the course will empower trustees to effectively implement crucial cybersecurity practices.

For a complete overview of learning opportunities, please visit the 2025 ASISA Academy Learning Calendar.

LEARN WITH US

The ASISA Academy is recognised as a Level 1 B-BBEE Qualifying Small Enterprise, with more than 83% of the Academy’s beneficiaries being Black South Africans. This means employers can claim 135% of their skills development spend with the ASISA Academy. Please get in touch with us to discuss how we can support your skills development requirements.

Please visit our website for more information on our many learning opportunities. We also invite you to interact with us on LinkedIn.

Best wishes
Alicia Davids
ASISA Academy CEO