---
title: "July JSE Investment Challenge showcases sharp minds and strategic wins among SA’s youth"
description: "The July round of the challenge highlighted the sharp skills and strategic thinking of South Africa’s young investors, with university and school teams excelling in growing their virtual portfolios."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "JULY WINNERS"
author: "Lisakanya Venna"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/lisakanya-venna/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-08-31-july-jse-investment-challenge-showcases-sharp-minds-and-strategic-wins-among-sas-youth/"
published: "2025-08-31T17:42:30"
updated: "2025-08-31T17:42:32"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 495
---

# July JSE Investment Challenge showcases sharp minds and strategic wins among SA’s youth

> The July round of the challenge highlighted the sharp skills and strategic thinking of South Africa’s young investors, with university and school teams excelling in growing their virtual portfolios.

By Lisakanya Venna · Published 31 August 2025, 19:42 SAST · Updated 31 August 2025, 19:42 SAST

## Key points
- Young South Africans are proving that while seasoned investors may have the experience, fresh strategies and a keen eye on global trends can lead to glory in the JSE Investment Challenge, where Rhodes University’s savvy students and Hoërskool Birchleigh’s market mavericks are making waves with their calculated risks and sector-savvy picks.
- Rhodes University’s RU Stratton Syndicates topped the university ETF/ETN category with a 4.07% growth, leveraging market trend analysis for strategic investments.
- The GALT.co team from Hoërskool Birchleigh focused on sectors like mining and energy, adapting to global events to achieve modest gains.
- Marhorhwani-Malali High School and Kearsney College emerged victorious in the income and equity categories, respectively, showcasing impressive growth rates.
- The JSE Investment Challenge continues to highlight young South African investors' skills, with record participation and innovative strategies across various school and university teams.

## Content

With categories spanning income, equity, speculator, and ETF/ETN portfolios, every round sees new faces climb the ranks while seasoned participants continue to refine their skills.

**Read more:**[Young South Africans school the market — JSE Investment Challenge April winners announced](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-05-29-young-south-africans-school-the-market-jse-investment-challenge-april-winners-announced/)

#### **Strategy and skill behind the win**

In the university ETF/ETN category, Rhodes University’s RU Stratton Syndicates led the pack with a solid 4.07% growth. Team member Tyrique Frans explained their approach: “Choosing the sectors was tricky, but after analysing market trends and the industries involved, we made well-informed decisions.”

The team adjusted their portfolio mid-month, buying more of the winners and selling underperformers.

Zita Ngoqo, also part of RU Stratton Syndicates, reflected on their cautious approach: “Our trades were low risk since we based everything on market trends. We ensured a diversified portfolio and played it safe investing in reliable products such as the Satrix Top 40 and FNB Top 40, each growing around 2.5%.”

**Read more:**[Young investors shine in JSE Investment Challenge despite challenges](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-07-03-young-investors-shine-in-jse-investment-challenge-despite-challenges/)

Another member of the RU Stratton Syndicates team, Eddie Munyumbwe, stated that the challenge exposed them to technical indicators such as “moving averages and the RSI (Relative Strength Index, a momentum indicator used to measure overbought or oversold conditions in a stock), which helped us time our trades better”.

#### **Global insights and strategic picks**

Meanwhile, at Hoërskool Birchleigh, the GALT.co team embraced a different strategy.

“We picked sectors such as mining and energy that usually perform well regardless of the economy,” Lehlogonolo Mgiba explained.

![From left: Giba Mahlangu (teacher), Takalani Muriba, Avuyile Mvani, Lehlogonolo Mgiba and Gracia Yumba (all Grade 12s) make up the GALT.co team from Hoërskool Birchleigh, in Kempton Park.Photo: Lisakanya Venna](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/9AJpvblm4fu7UdLaWP8BASoaP50=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/d82844a0-31cb-466f-9620-39b4a3eebb51.jpeg)

*From left: Giba Mahlangu (teacher), Takalani Muriba, Avuyile Mvani, Lehlogonolo Mgiba and Gracia Yumba (all Grade 12s) make up the GALT.co team from Hoërskool Birchleigh, in Kempton Park. Photo: supplied.*

Mgiba observed that global events, such as geopolitical tensions involving Iran, could influence oil-related stocks due to their impact on global supply. This insight helped the team make modest gains and highlighted the real-world effects of international news on market movements.

Throughout the challenge, the team developed skills in diversification using trading tools and chart analysis.

**Read more:**[Market masters: JSE Investment Challenge sees record participation as Eden College and UWC excel](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-04-30-market-masters-jse-investment-challenge-sees-record-participation-as-eden-college-and-uwc-excel/)

“I studied the charts first to see if a stock might go up. Once I had enough confirmation, I checked the fundamentals to make sure I was on the right track,” said Avuyile Mvani, a member of the [GALT.co](http://galt.co) team.

**July winners**

#### **Schools**

- Marhorhwani Malali High School’s NC-TMM1 team from Limpopo won the income category with growth of R6,681.87.
- Kearsney College’s Boiler Room team from KwaZulu-Natal won the equity category with growth of 6.36%.
- Hoërskool Birchleigh’s GALT.co team from Gauteng won the speculator category with growth of 5.93%.
- Waterfall College’s Solomon Investors team won the ETF/ETN category with growth of 4.25% .

#### **Universities**

- Stellenbosch University’s USIS — Broke Brokers team from the Western Cape won the speculator category with growth of 6.19%.
- Rhodes University’s RU Stratton Syndicates team from the Eastern Cape won the ETF/ETN category with growth of 4.07%. **DM**