MJ Givens Kgasi is a seasoned financial professional, analyst and entrepreneur with deep expertise in trading and market dynamics.

As an analyst at Octa, a global licensed financial broker, he provides in-depth insights into cryptocurrency, forex, and macroeconomic trends, equipping investors with the knowledge to navigate volatile financial markets effectively. With nearly a decade of hands-on experience in the South African trading industry, he is recognised for his ability to translate complex financial strategies into accessible, actionable insights for traders and investors.

In addition to his role at Octa, Kgasi is the founder and CEO of Traders Connect South Africa and TradeWithMJ Company, where he focuses on trader development, mentorship, and market education. 

In this episode of Smart Money, Kgasi explains how traders should balance technology with experience and discipline.

For more information, please visit Octa's website:
https://www.octafx.com/

Disclaimer: This content does not contain or constitute investment advice or recommendations and does not consider your investment objectives, financial situation, or needs. Any actions taken based on this content are at your sole discretion and risk, and we and Octa do not accept any liability for any resulting losses or consequences.

Octa Analyst MJ Givens Kgasi on balancing AI technology with experience and discipline

In this Smart Money with Alishia Seckam interview, Sumarie Greybe discusses how the insurance industry is evolving and the role Naked Insurance is playing in this locally.

Greybe is the co-founder of Naked Insurance and is an insurance industry veteran with nearly three decades of experience.

Before co-founding Naked Insurance in 2016, she held several other notable positions at industry-leading companies.

This included working as a Director and Partner at EY, and a Founding Partner at Quindiem Consulting.

By leveraging the experiences and insights she earned from these various positions, Greybe developed Naked Insurance into the industry leader it is today.

She boasts a Bachelor of Commerce Honours in Actuarial Science from the University of Pretoria and an FIA from the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.

In this Smart Money interview, Greybe discusses what motivated her to found Naked Insurance and challenge the established insurance giants.

She then outlines why Naked Insurance has taken an unconventional approach to its marketing and some key areas where it differentiates itself from other insurers.

Greybe also unpacks the most significant shifts she has seen in customer needs amid the continued digitisation of the industry.

She concludes the interview by explaining why she thinks investors love Naked Insurance and the key future opportunities for innovation they are looking into.

Naked Insurance's Sumarie Greybe on AI-driven disruption and the future of insurance

In this Smart Money with Alishia Seckam interview, Pick n Pay CEO Sean Summers discusses the retailer’s massive turnaround effort.

Summers has a long history with the retail giant, having worked for the company from 1974 to 2007, and then re-joining in 2023.

His first job was at Shell BP Service Company in 1973, after which Summers joined Pick n Pay as a training manager at the age of 20.

He became the Managing Director of Pick n Pay in 1996 and took over the reins as CEO in 1999, succeeding founder Raymond Ackerman.

Ackerman described Summers as “an excellent leader, who achieved remarkable things at Pick n Pay.”

He served as CEO of Pick n Pay until 2006, during which time the retailer was the clear grocery market leader in South Africa.

It even outperformed Shoprite, Africa’s largest retailer, which was under the leadership of retail legend Whitey Basson at the time.

Pick n Pay achieved an average annual revenue growth rate of 16% per annum, significantly higher than Shoprite’s average annual revenue growth rate of 11% over the same period.

Its share price increased by 476% between 1999 and his 2007 resignation, translating to an annual compounded rate of return of 24%.

Summers also bought Boxer in 2002, which proved to be one of the best business decisions in South Africa’s retail space, and has been credited for saving Pick n Pay.

In this interview, Summers highlights the biggest changes in the retail space between his departure from Pick n Pay in 2007 and his return to the company in 2023.

He talks about the progress Pick n Pay has made since he took the reins a second time, explaining how he feels about its turnaround progress so far.

Summers then explains how he stumbled upon Boxer and what attracted him to the company at the time.

He also unpacks his vision for the future of retail in South Africa and how Pick n Pay’s turnaround strategy fits into this future.

Finally, Summers discusses Pick n Pay’s recent decision to sponsor the Springboks.

Sean Summers unpacks Pick n Pay's massive turnaround effort and how it's going

In this Smart Money with Alishia Seckam interview, James Cook discusses how structured products help investors manage volatility while diversifying their portfolios.

Cook is a Product Specialist at Investec Structured Products.

He is a strong believer in Chinese markets and the opportunity they provide as an undervalued emerging market that offers significant upside.

Cook holds a Bachelor of Business Science degree with a major in Finance and Accounting from the University of Cape Town.

He also earned his BCom Honours and MCom Master’s degrees from the same university.

Upon completing his studies, he joined Investec in January 2020, and has achieved impressive success at the organisation ever since.

Outside of his work at Investec, Cook is a passionate bronze sculptor who aims to create artworks that are both technically impressive and modern.

In this Smart Money interview, Cook begins by explaining what structured products are and why Investec is a leader in this area in South Africa.

He then discusses Investec’s two new structured products – both of which are linked to the Shanghai Shenzhen CSI 300 Index.

Cook explains the differences between these two products and shares why Investec believes China offers excellent upside for investors.

He delves into the potential returns investors can achieve from these new structured products and discusses the benefit of their 100% capital protection promises.

Cook concludes the discussion by providing important administrative information about these structured products – such as the minimum investment requirement and the closing date for this opportunity.

Investec Product Specialist James Cook explains the company’s new structured products

In this Smart Money with Alishia Seckam interview, Sorbet Group Founder Ian Fuhr discusses his latest business venture, The Hatch Institute.

He is a serial entrepreneur with a career spanning almost five decades. This extensive experience has equipped him with the expertise to specialise in leadership, people development, race relations, and the building of corporate culture.

Fuhr dropped out of university to pursue business. He initially worked in the music industry before joining forces with his brother Rodney to bring the popular department chain store Kmart to South Africa in the 1970s.

He later left the business to start a highly successful record company, and then founded a race relations consultancy called Labour Link in 1991.

In 2005, Fuhr founded the beauty salon chain Sorbet, which went on to include Sorbet Dry Bar, Sorbet Man, and Candi and Co.

With Fuhr as CEO, Sorbet quickly became the largest salon chain in Africa.

After almost 15 years at the helm, Fuhr left Sorbet to begin a new venture – The Hatch Institute.

A business and life coaching organisation, The Hatch Institute transforms mindsets to build exceptional workplace cultures.

Fuhr has also authored several books and is a seasoned keynote speaker.

n this interview, Fuhr highlights the biggest things he learned from starting Kmart in South Africa.

He talks about several of his other business ventures, including Labour Link and Sorbet.

Fuhr explains what motivated him to enter the beauty industry with Sorbet and how he grew the brand into a national giant.

He also discusses his latest business venture, The Hatch Institute, and unpacks what it offers to the South African market.

Finally, Fuhr talks about the “Cultureneering” philosophy he has created at The Hatch Institute.

Ian Fuhr on scaling Sorbet, building culture, and driving change through leadership

In this Smart Money with Alishia Seckam interview, Strauss & Co executive director Susie Goodman discusses discusses Strauss & Co's impressive growth journey and how they have become such a prominent name in the local industry.

Goodman holds a Bachelor of Arts in Art History from the University of Cape Town, which she obtained in 1992.

She furthered her studies at Christie’s Fine Art Auctioneers Education department, with a Postgraduate Diploma in Fine and Decorative Art from the Renaissance to the modern period.

Goodman remained at Christie’s, ultimately becoming an associate director and London’s Head of Client Advisory.

While at Christie’s, Goodman played a critical role in developing the institute’s Global Buyers’ Programme.

She was also involved in several important sales of single-owner collections, including the Rothschild Collection, the collection of Lord Cholmondeley of Houghton Hall, and Princess Salimah Aga Khan’s jewellery collection.

Goodman then returned to South Africa, and ultimately joined Strauss & Co in 2011 as a client advisor.

She took on the role of general manager in 2016, and was appointed executive director in 2018.

As executive director, Goodman is a key executive management team member, responsible for ensuring the efficient running of specialist departments, people, operations, technology, and finance.

She has also been involved in the sales of prominent collections at Strauss & Co, including the disposal of the Hardebeck Collection and the R20.46 million sale of JH Pierneef’s Farm Jonkershoek with Twin Peaks Beyond, Stellenbosch.

In this interview, Goodman talks about how she got into the fine art industry and unpacks the growth of Strauss & Co.

She discusses the rise of South African fine art prices in recent years and how they compare to the global fine art market.

Goodman then talks about Strauss & Co’s new record for the most expensive artwork ever sold in Africa, and what makes this piece special.

She also talks about what’s next for Strauss & Co, including expanding beyond the fine art industry into other collectible markets such as wine, brandy, and jewellery.

Finally, Goodman unpacks her journey to joining the fine art industry and how she got to her current position.

Susie Goodman on Strauss & Co's impressive growth journey

In this episode of Smart Money, we explore how investors can access equity markets through online platforms with guest Tinus Rautenbach, Business Head of Clarity by Investec. He shares insights into how Clarity has grown since its public launch, attracting both traditional and new investors while offering seamless access to local and global markets. From moving rands to dollars in seconds to investing in global giants like Apple and Nvidia or tracking entire indices through ETFs, Clarity is positioning itself as a key player in South Africa’s online investment space.

The conversation also highlights the importance of investor education, diversification, and understanding risk management when navigating today’s markets. Whether it’s long-term investing for inflation-beating returns or short-term speculative trading, Rautenbach emphasizes that the tools and opportunities are now more accessible than ever. Most importantly, investing is no longer limited to the wealthy—through fractional shares, ETFs, and user-friendly platforms, anyone can begin building wealth over time.

Tinus Rautenbach on the growth of Clarity by Investec since its launch

In this episode of Smart Money, Mpho Modise, Head of Renewable Energy Trading at Investec, discusses the bank’s pioneering move into South Africa’s electricity market following the approval of a 20-year trading license by NERSA. She explains how Investec can now purchase renewable power from diverse sources such as solar, wind, and hydro, and resell it to businesses nationwide—helping clients lower costs, boost sustainability, and transition toward cleaner energy.

Modise also highlights how this step supports Investec’s broader sustainability strategy and contributes to shaping the future of South Africa’s energy sector. She explores the opportunities and challenges within the renewable energy space and explains how energy trading can promote innovation, inclusivity, and economic growth across the country.

Mpho Modise on Investec’s move into South Africa’s renewable energy market

In this episode of Smart Money, Jorge Mendes, Cell C CEO, shares how the company has transformed from a struggling operator into a lean, cash-flow-positive business. Through disciplined financial restructuring, strategic partnerships, and a shift to an asset-light model, Cell C has rebuilt its network quality, brand, and customer experience while positioning itself for long-term growth.

Mendes discusses the impact of innovative MVNO partnerships with major brands like FNB and Shoprite, the company’s focus on technology-driven services, and the lessons learned from leading a successful turnaround. He also provides insights into Cell C’s future ambitions, including plans for a potential JSE listing and continued innovation in South Africa’s competitive telecom landscape.

Jorge Mendes on Cell C’s turnaround and future growth strategy

Brynn Jordaan is the lead of EY Africa Business Consulting for Finance Transformation.

Within this role Jordaan helps CFOs and finance executives navigate digital disruption and capitalise on it, from vision to business value. 

Currently Jordaan works across a variety of industries including consumer goods, retail, financial services and mining, and has extensive experience in leading global operating model transformations, ERP transformations and people change programmes.

In this episode of EY Leader Unscripted, Jordaan unpacks the biggest challenges faced by CFOs, and how EY is helping to solve them.

Brynn Jordaan discusses how GenAI is transforming how finance teams operate

Daily Investor has launched its new finance, business, and investing show, Smart Money, with Alishia Seckam.

To further serve its growing audience, Daily Investor has partnered with one of South Africa’s top broadcast and financial journalists, Alishia Seckam, to launch Smart Money.

Smart Money focuses on South Africa’s asset management industry, JSE-listed companies, venture capitalism, and how to invest smartly.