Ghost Stories
Ghost Stories #98: Fixed income investing – how to move beyond cash in a balanced portfolio
In this episode of Ghost Stories, we get stuck into the world of fixed income - a space that retail investors often overlook in favour of equities. Yusuf Wadee of Satrix concurs with The Finance Ghost's cricket analogy: fixed income returns act as the singles that keep the scoreboard ticking over. But that doesn't mean that investors should default to low-yield cash accounts. Veteran fixed-income portfolio manager James Turp from Ninety One explains how his funds aim to optimise returns in the sweet spot between cash and bonds. And now, with the launch of the Satrix Income Actively Managed ETF (AMETF), investors have an easy way to access this expertise.
Ghost Stories
Ghost Stories #97: From mechanical work to judgement in portfolio management – reallocating human effort with AI
Institutional investors with complex structures face multiple challenges in managing their investments. At Forvis Mazars in South Africa, the team is actively working on AI-driven solutions to help clients reallocate time from mechanical work to judgement work. Shane Cooper and Rishi Juta joined me to explain what they've been building.
Podcasts
PODCAST: No Ordinary Wednesday Ep123 | Middle East conflict – counting the cost of disruption
Markets are sending a surprisingly calm signal in the face of escalating conflict with Iran. Oil prices are rising, supply chains are under pressure, and recession risks are quietly ticking higher, yet equities remain relatively steady.
In the latest episode of No Ordinary Wednesday, Jeremy Maggs is joined by Investec experts in SA and the UK - Callum Macpherson, Phil Shaw and Chris Holdsworth - to unpack what’s really at play. The conversation explores what happens if the conflict drags on for longer, what key indicators markets are watching and what risks to the global economy are already emerging.
Capitec
The Finance Ghost Plugged in with Capitec: Ep 9 (Innovation, engineered by the Van Greunens)
Any business owner knows that software can make or break a business. And when software is built by entrepreneurs, for entrepreneurs, the benefits are even clearer. Like many great businesses, Olympia Engage was created to solve the challenges its founders faced in their previous businesses. With hands-on experience managing large teams and running performance and incentivisation programmes, brothers Manie and George Van Greunen set out to build digital solutions that address these challenges.
Ghost Stories
Ghost Stories #96: Public and private markets – ETFs help bridge the gap
Private markets come with challenges related to daily price discovery, liquidity and due diligence. Although ETFs cannot solve these issues, they can act as a liqudity sleeve in situations where committed institutional capital can be invested in a liquid ETF until the private market manager calls the capital. Duma Mxenge joined me on this podcast to explain how this works.
Ghost Stories
Ghost Stories #95: Reeling in returns: Sea Harvest’s best-ever performance
The ocean is a mystical place that has captured our imagination as a species for as long as anyone can remember. And although there are many fish in the sea, taking advantage of that resource in a sustainable and profitable way really isn’t that simple. Sea Harvest has signed off on an incredible year that demonstrates the depth of the strategy - quite literally. CEO Felix Ratheb and CFO Muhammad Brey joined me to explain the fishing industry and how they make money.
Ghost Stories
Ghost Stories #94: Shoprite’s secret sauce: value retail culture meets omnichannel
Get ready for a masterclass in retail from Pieter Engelbrecht, CEO of South Africa's largest employer. If you're ready to learn about the secrets to Shoprite's success, you're in the right place. With the South African retail sector having to navigate tremendous challenges, Shoprite keeps coming out on top. But how do they do it?
Podcasts
PODCAST: No Ordinary Wednesday Ep122 | A new cycle for private equity
Private equity is shifting gears. As rates turn and investor confidence improves, funds are deploying again, and South Africa is firmly back on the radar. But this isn’t a return to excess, it’s a shift toward smarter leverage, disciplined execution and sharper capital structuring. In the latest episode of No Ordinary Wednesday, Jeremy Maggs speaks to Rishanth Pillay, Head of Sponsor Leveraged Finance at Investec Corporate & Investment Banking, about what’s driving the renewed momentum – and what could derail it.
Ghost Stories
Ghost Stories #93: Budget Speech 2026 – a pivot to stability
South Africa’s 2026 Budget Speech announced a mix of bold, interesting and ultimately positive changes - especially for small businesses and South African investors. With pro-business policies that signal economic stability, could this be a turning point for the country? Tertius Troost (Associate Director - Tax Consulting at Forvis Mazars) joined me to unpack a "boring" budget (in a good way) that represents a pivot to stability.
Capitec
The Finance Ghost Plugged in with Capitec: Ep 8 (Business Banking, but better)
Capitec understands the challenges faced by entrepreneurs. Throughout this season of The Finance Ghost Plugged in with Capitec, we’ve explored how affordable transactional banking and access to finance can help business owners grow.
But how does it all come together? And how did Capitec make such a strong impact on the business banking scene so quickly?
This is The Finance Ghost in conversation with Karl Kumbier (Executive for Business Bank), Amrei Botha (Executive of Client Experience Delivery) and Sicelo Mkhize (Head of Distribution).
Podcasts
PODCAST: No Ordinary Wednesday Ep121 | Budget Speech 2026: What’s at stake?
South Africa’s 2026 Budget arrives at a pivotal moment. Debt is hovering near 78% of GDP. Growth is forecast at just 1.5%. Debt-servicing costs absorb around 5% of GDP. And yet, bond yields have fallen, sentiment has improved and S&P maintains a positive outlook.
Is this genuine fiscal stabilisation or simply a window of opportunity? Jeremy Maggs sits down with Investec’s Chief Economist Annabel Bishop and Treasury Economist Tertia Jacobs.
