GROWING OUR REACH

Newsflash | July 2026

Dear Colleagues

As we step into the second half of 2026, our thoughts are already turning to 2027. This year has reinforced something for us – that our impact grows in direct proportion to the strength of our partnerships. The more ASISA members and industry stakeholders who work alongside us, the further our reach extends – into more graduate programmes, more in-house learning interventions, and more opportunities for people already working in the industry to sharpen their skills.

That question of reach is on my mind in another way, too. The world of work has changed since the pandemic, and I suspect the way working professionals want to learn has changed along with it. Over the coming months, we’ll be exploring what that means for how we design and deliver our courses – because meeting people where they are, and how they learn best, is at the heart of what we do.

In the meantime, this edition reflects that same spirit of partnership and growth: cohorts stepping into new stages of their journeys, application windows opening for our 2027 intakes, and companies across the industry continuing to invest in their people alongside us.

Thank you, as always, for being part of this work.

Warm regards,

Alicia Davids

Executive Director, ASISA Academy

Investment Management Administration & Client Servicing (IMACS@TSIBA) Internship

Our 2025/26 Investment Management Administration & Client Servicing (IMACS@TSIBA) Internship cohort has just stepped into the workplace. Ahead of their internships, students attended a two-day, face-to-face work-readiness programme to prepare them for their Industry Practical Project (IPJ) placements, which began on Monday 3 August. So far, 17 students have been confirmed to start their placements, and we will share a few “first day of work” pics in our next Newsflash.

Meanwhile, a new 2026/27 cohort began the programme on 17 July. We look forward to yet another trip around the sun with the industry’s future talent.

TSIBA students from the 2025/26 IMACS@TSIBA cohort who attended the two-day, face-to-face work-readiness programme to prepare them for their Industry Practical Project (IPJ) placements.

Fezeka Graduate Programme

Applications for the 2027 Fezeka cohort are now open. Meanwhile, the current cohort is entering its final month on the programme. 

This month, we caught up with two of the women who were part of the previous cohort. Below are the introductions to their stories, which have been posted on our Impact page.

FMP Learnership

We would like to congratulate all delegates from the Financial Markets Practitioner class of 2025 who passed their external exams. 

Delegates from Momentum Investments who formed part of the FMP Learnership class of 2025. From the left: Brian Maphutha, Boipelo Mathe, Luvhengo Nthangeni, and Nande Nozibele.

Interns from the 2025 cohort of the Fezeka Graduate Programme who also formed part of the FMP Learnership class of 2025. From top left, clockwise: Imitha Gala, Shiluvelo Nkuna, Admire Ramoshu, Bahati Hassan, Tshembo Chauke, Andiswa Majola, and Patricia Mokoena.

IFA Internship

The application window for graduates and Independent Financial Advisor (IFA) Internship practices wishing to take part in the programme opened on 13 July and closes on Monday, 31 August 2026.

Life Insurance Sprint: AI in Life Insurance

Eighteen delegates from companies across the industry attended our online Life Insurance Sprint focused on artificial intelligence in the life insurance space.

Our Life Insurance Sprints are three-hour, online, interactive sessions that give professionals in the life insurance industry a comprehensive overview of advanced techniques, best practice and emerging trends. The Sprints are recognised by the Insurance Institute of South Africa (IISA) for CPD points.

This was the last Sprint we had planned for the year, so we haven’t yet set dates for the next round. Let us know what other topics would be of interest to you.

UCT Life Insurance Claims Assessors Short Course

Our second UCT Life Insurance Claims Assessors Short Course kicked off in July with 15 delegates attending the online course every Wednesday until October. The course concludes with a three-hour exam in November. Among the delegates are participants from Eswatini and Lesotho. The course is UCT-endorsed and registered for CPD points with the Insurance Institute of South Africa (IISA).

Some of the delegates who are currently attending the online UCT Life Insurance Claims Assessors Short Course.

While we value the opportunity to present courses to mixed groups of delegates from various companies across the industry and the continent, we also enjoy the privilege of delivering inhouse courses to ASISA member companies, partners and stakeholders from time to time.  

During July, we delivered a range of inhouse courses such as Investment Sprints and Industry Overview Blitzcamps for the ASISA Foundation employees, and once again, a team from Ninety One (pictured below).

Delegates from Ninety One who attended the Investment Sprints in July.

In addition to the above courses, we also presented our annual slots on the Sanlam Early Career Opportunities for Graduates Programme. The programme gives ambitious South African graduates the chance to kickstart their careers at one of the country’s leading financial institutions, with exposure to fields including finance, accounting, actuarial science, IT and digital transformation.

Besides several public workshops delivered during the month of July, we also delivered a face-to-face workshop for the Construction Industry Retirement Benefit Fund, covering fund policies and risk management.

These workshops are delivered free of charge to retirement fund board members, in partnership with the ASISA Foundation. Should your company wish to sponsor retirement fund trustee education, please contact the ASISA Foundation here.

Trustees of the Construction Industry Retirement Benefit Fund, pictured above with workshop presenter, Stella Seletse (third one from the right), during the Fund Policies and Risk Management workshop in July.

Our newly appointed Alumni Committee has been busy during the month of July, which is also Savings Month. Every Friday, they have posted content on social media about the importance of saving, and last Friday, 31 July, was the grand finale, an interview with none other than the editor of ASISA’s Smart About Money, Laura du Preez.

Please share far and wide as we do our part in promoting the message that everyone can and should be saving their money wisely.

From the left: Lathi-Thaa Mehana (Alumni Relations Officer), Laura du Preez (Editor of ASISA’s Smart About Money), Rorisang Modise (Alumni Chair), and Wandile Mhlanga (Alumni Assistant Secretary).

ASISA Academy - Building the talent pipeline for South Africa’s savings and investment industry.