Dear Stakeholder

The ASISA Academy’s vision is to be the training partner of choice for both the ASISA members as well as the broader financial services industry and its stakeholders. As one of the transformation initiatives of ASISA, we rely on the input and support of member companies – both large and small – to determine the kinds of short courses and programmes that we offer. In recognition of the various ASISA members who have been partnering with us over the years, we have been featuring good news stories and snippets over the past few months in our Newsflash. 

The partner company I would like to put the spotlight on this month is Taquanta Asset Managers. An independent, Black-owned investment manager, Taquanta sponsors an IMACS@TSIBA intern every year, with an impressive retention rate. The company prides itself on its strong owner-managed culture, and rightfully so. The benefits of working for the biggest managers are well documented, but a smaller, though significant business like Taquanta offers something very special, too.

ASISA Academy IMACS@TSIBA Internship alumni currently working at Taquanta: from left, Kyle-Spencer Hawtrey, client service administrator; Mogamat Tayb Majiet, junior dealer cash solutions; Chane-Lee Hendricks, portfolio manager; Masanele Bam, client service administrator; Siyalakha Sonka, client service administrator; and Benjamin Samuels, intern.

Taquanta's high retention rate and the positive feedback of young professionals placed there by the ASISA Academy bear this out. An example is Masanele Bam, IMACS@TSIBA alumnus and Client Service Administrator at Taquanta, who says, “I really liked the environment from the start.”

After finishing school, Bam was determined to study further but, in her own words, “finances said otherwise”. She took a holiday job (quickly attracting the offer of a fulltime position) and joined a learnership run by the Western Cape Office of the Premier, but always kept her eye on the prize. A year after matriculating, she achieved her dream and started her studies at TSIBA Business School.

On the subject of high retention rates, we recently learnt the following from Sanlam, who offered 10 IMACS@TSIBA students 12-month internships last year as opposed to four-month internships, which make up their compulsory undergraduate industry internship.

Within the Sanlam Investment Group, seven of the graduates who had participated in the year-long internship programme were offered renewed contracts at Sanlam Private Wealth, and one at Sanlam Investments. Says Bongi Motse, Head of Human Capital at Sanlam Private Wealth: “Over the past 12 months, these talented young people have immersed themselves in real-world work experiences, contributed meaningfully across various teams, and grown both personally and professionally. We are incredibly proud of their journey and excited to see how they continue to shape the future.”

We would like to thank the Sanlam Investment Group for their partnership and urge other companies to follow suit. An 80% retention rate is absolutely phenomenal!

Eight of the ten IMACS@TSIBA graduates who were retained by Sanlam Private Wealth and Sanlam Investments.
Top, from left: Mikayla van Heerden, Keisha Blanche, Zuko Xhashimba, Tyrese Nichols, Somila Nunu.
Bottom, from left: Mihlali Qwesha, Siphokazi Sakati, Muammr Adams.

Success is definitely a two-way street in this internship, which connects companies with high-potential, undergraduate students completing a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) Finance degree through TSIBA.

Prescient, another valued partner of this programme, recently shared that they are extremely proud of the nine students who have either accepted positions within Prescient or progressed their careers with other companies in the industry.

“We have participated in the ASISA Academy’s IMACS@TSiBA programme since 2017 and over the years have built a strong foundation with the learners who, through their studies and training, have a practical understanding of the investment administration environment and its systems,” the note said.

“Prescient has provided these students with excellent learning opportunities, a team keen to share insights and experience, and a brilliant platform to launch their careers. We are delighted to have supported this programme over the years. We look forward to more shared success through a continued partnership with the IMACS@TSiBA Internship in the years ahead.”

Prescient talent development specialist Tamzyn Barker, left, and talent co-ordinator Lauren Smith, right, with IMACS@TSIBA interns from 2024, Muno Abdurahman, Ethan Cross, and Asheekah Groenmeyer.

The variety of impact stories we have shared over the past few months provide evidence that partnerships between ASISA Academy and ASISA members are highly successful in sustaining the talent pipeline into the industry.

Speaking of sustainability, we are already planning the IMACS@TSIBA programme for 2026/2027 using the current model as our basis, and we urge members to let us know before the end of this year what they would like to contribute. Click here to complete the commitment form.

While the cost per student for the academic component will be R20,500 excluding VAT, we urge companies to consider sponsoring a minimum of three students at a cost of R61,500 excluding VAT. 

Equity Analyst Short Course

Nine delegates attended the Equity Analyst Short Course, which is delivered online over 10 mornings over four weeks. Of the nine, four delegates were ABSIP young professionals whose fees for the course were subsidised by the ASISA Academy and Aeon Investment Management. 

Delegates who attended the online Equity Analyst Short Course in October. Top left: Tshepang Phokanoka, Bubuya Ncube, Shaun Lanto. Second row, from left: Busisiwe Gaza, Lindile Malgas, Mpilonhle Benya. Third row, from left: Nicolene du Toit, Alecia Sekwati, Takudzwa Ngwenya.

UCT Life Insurance Claims Assessors Short Course

Delegates on the second UCT Life Insurance Claims Assessors Short Course of 2025, which ran in Johannesburg from July to October, are gearing up for their final exam in November.

Delegates who attended the UCT Life Insurance Claims Assessors Short Course in Johannesburg.

UCT Collective Investment Schemes (CIS) Short Course

The UCT Collective Investment Schemes (CIS) Short Course was delivered online on nine mornings over three weeks to 18 delegates from various organisations across the industry.

Insurance Fraud Sprint

A three-hour interactive online Sprint for Senior Life Insurance Claims Assessors, focusing on Insurance Fraud, was attended by 14 delegates from various organisations. Feedback from the delegates included:

• Good, clear communication. Interesting topics and food for thought.
• The information provided was very helpful.
• Great presentation, awesome real life examples, and very knowlegeable presenters. I would love to hear them present again.

Cybersecurity was a hot topic at a number of workshops this month with organised labour. Initiated by Atleha-edu, a non-profit company that provides accessible, high-quality consumer financial education, particularly focused on retirement fund trustees, management committee members and fund members. These workshops are made possible by ASISA members who fund the ASISA Foundation, thereby allowing Atleha-edu and the ASISA Academy to deliver these consumer education workshops free of charge.

Members of the Chemical, Energy, Paper, Printing, Wood, and Allied Workers' Union (CEPPWAWU) attended the Cybersecurity workshop that was hosted in Pretoria. 

Sanlam Investment Induction

In October, new staff members in various departments at Sanlam Investments attended an investment induction course, which was presented online. The sessions covered the savings and investment environment, investment governance, investment products, running an investment business, the major asset classes, and pricing and performance.

As the year swiftly draws to a close, I would like to invite ASISA members who have not yet engaged with me one-on-one or via ASISA forums to please reach out and share your views on what additional offerings we could be providing the industry. For a complete overview of learning opportunities, please visit the 2026 ASISA Academy Learning Calendar.

The ASISA Academy is recognised as a Level 1 B-BBEE Qualifying Small Enterprise, with more than 88% 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