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REFINING, NOT REINVENTING
Newsflash | October 2026
Dear Colleagues
Our recent short course survey – backed up by a bit of AI-assisted trend-spotting – told us a lot about how professionals in this industry want to learn in 2027: online rather than face-to-face, and in focused three- to four-hour sessions rather than a full day in front of a screen. So, we’ve refreshed and refined some of our course offerings, but we'll share updates soon.
There’s a lesson in that for careers too, as this month’s two alumni profiles show: progress rarely means skipping stages. More often, it means refining your way through them as you learn, assimilating those lessons, and charting a new course accordingly.
We’re also excited about new qualifications on the horizon: the NQF 7 Advanced Occupational Diploma: Financial Markets Practitioner, SAQA ID 125998 (which replaces the Occupational Certificate, SAQA ID 117238 and the NQF 6 Advanced Occupational Certificate: Financial Markets Support Officer, SAQA ID 126079. More on that soon.
Finally, we look forward to celebrating two decades of impact in 2027, the year ASISA Academy was founded, and hope you will join us as we reflect on the many milestones we have achieved through our industry partnerships.
Thank you, as always, for being part of this work.
Alicia Davids
CEO, ASISA Academy
SHORT COURSES
The ASISA Academy delivered the first online masterclass in a series of four on Municipal Finance for Journalists in the last week of October. Attended by 36 journalists from around the country, the masterclass was hosted by Lucienne Fild, ASISA’s Head of Communications, and delivered by Monica Laganparsad, Business Day News Editor and former senior researcher with the International Budget Partnership.
The ASISA Academy Journalism Masterclass Programme was established in response to a request from the South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) to help upskill journalists, starting with understanding and reporting on municipal functions and finance.
Given ASISA’s existing partnership with the Henry Nxumalo Foundation to support the Our City News initiative, the Foundation was approached to partner with the ASISA Academy on the masterclass programme. A four-part masterclass series was designed to help journalists build foundational knowledge of how a city works, why the municipal budget matters, where to find key information, and how to use artificial intelligence responsibly to make sense of large volumes of information.
The remaining three masterclasses have been scheduled for November. There has been an unprecedented demand from the news media for these masterclasses, and there is an opportunity to expand on this approach in 2027.
UCT Collective Investment Schemes (CIS) Short Course
Our online UCT CIS Short Course was delivered over nine mornings across three weeks to delegates from various organisations. Ten of the delegates were sponsored by Mentenova.
Although I'm in the industry and have studied a lot of these subjects before, I didn't realise how much I had forgotten. And a lot has changed since I studied, so it was a fantastic learning curve.
Equity Analyst Short Course
Ten of the 14 delegates who attended the Equity Analyst Short Course were also sponsored by Mentenova – our thanks to them for their continued support. Here are some of the comments from the delegates who attended the course:
- It was a productive session going over the Clicks model! I worked through it independently afterward, which is a great way to solidify your understanding and make sure you can apply it on your own.
- He explained valuation in a way that was easy to follow. I also liked that he asked questions and got us involved, which kept the session interactive and helped me understand the topic better.
IN-HOUSE COURSES
Sanlam Investments Induction
New staff members from various departments at Sanlam Investments attended an investment induction course, presented in person at their Cape Town office. Sessions covered the savings and investment environment, investment governance, investment products, running an investment business, the major asset classes, and pricing and performance.
PPS Investments
We concluded a series of six online workshops for PPS Investments, the Retirement Planning Specialist Course, which began in August. Sessions were delivered fortnightly over the period, specially curated for PPS’s Investment Specialists and Area Managers.
GRADUATE ALUMNI IMPACT STORIES
IMPACT STORY 1
A mix-up that mapped out a career
How a university application filled in by her brother – by mistake – set this IFA Internship alumna on the road to becoming a Certified Financial Planner.
Rebaabetswe Makhudu (CFP), Wealth Manager at Gradidge Mahura Investments
IMPACT STORY 2
Trading one opportunity for another
How giving up a bursary for a seat on the IMACS@TSIBA course set this Prescient Fund Accountant on a six-year career path she never planned for.
Tarryn Julies, Fund Accountant at Prescient Fund Services
GRADUATE PROGRAMMES
Fezeka Graduate Programme
One more member of our 2025 Fezeka Graduate Programme cohort has been placed: Amahle Vuba has been employed by PI Investments, bringing us to five out of eight graduates now placed.
Interviews for the 2027 cohort are currently underway, and by the time this issue reaches you, we expect to have completed all of them. The new cohort officially launches on 3 December, alongside a close-out graduation for the outgoing 2025/26 cohort.
Independent Financial Advisor (IFA) Internship
We are proud to celebrate six graduates from the 2026 Independent Financial Advisor (IFA) Internship cohort who have successfully secured permanent employment with their host practices following the completion of their internships. Their appointment is a testament to their hard work, growth, and commitment throughout the programme, and highlights the value of the internship in developing industry-ready talent while creating a sustainable pipeline of skilled professionals for the independent financial advice sector.
From the top left, clockwise: Tshephang Ramela (Lifestyle and Wealth Management), Jabulani Mazibuko (Ohmni Power Financial Solutions CC), Kayleen Ramdav (Origin Financial), Zibusiso Ngwenya (Centillion Wealth Advisory), Gift Ngomane (Core Wealth Advisory Services), and Dineo Mokoena (Unum Capital (Pty) Ltd).
RETIREMENT FUND TRUSTEE EDUCATION
In October, we delivered single-fund RFTE workshops for the following funds: Municipal Employees Pension Fund (MEPF), Bokamoso, South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), the Federation of Unions of South Africa (FEDUSA), Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT), and the Mercedes-Benz South Africa Defined Contribution Provident Fund.
We’ve also introduced a new workshop, King V and Retirement Funds, delivered in partnership with our RFTE sponsor, the ASISA Foundation. It gives South African retirement fund trustees an understanding of the evolution, purpose and relevance of King V, and explores how its principles apply within the unique governance environment of retirement funds – with a focus on fiduciary responsibilities, member interests and long-term outcomes.
These workshops are delivered free of charge to South African retirement fund trustees, and are registered with Batseta for CPD points, presented by experienced industry professionals. They’re also available to non-trustees for a fee of R2,125 (excluding VAT).
CONTACT US
ASISA Academy - Building the talent pipeline for South Africa’s savings and investment industry.
