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The University of the Western Cape (UWC) is beaming with pride as two of its brightest students, Sisonke Mfeketho and Diteboho Shabalala, achieved first place in the prestigious Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) University Investment Challenge — outsmarting competitors from across South Africa and proving that brilliance, boldness, and a hunger for learning can yield golden rewards.

Hosted annually by the JSE, this highly competitive challenge invites university teams to experience the thrill of the financial markets by simulating real-world share trading. Each team is entrusted with an imaginary R1-million to invest in JSE-listed companies, testing their ability to analyse trends, make strategic decisions, and grow their portfolio. 

Between March and September, Mfeketho and Shabalala’s teamwork, perseverance and market intuition propelled them to the very top — securing victory in the Speculator’s Game with an impressive 1.58% lead over their nearest rivals, students teams from the University of Cape Town and Stellenbosch University. 

Their reward? A R30 000 cash prize and an all-expenses-paid trip to an international stock exchange — a dream opportunity to see how global markets move and to meet some of the brightest minds in finance. But beyond the prize, their victory represented something much greater: a testament to UWC’s dedication to nurturing future-ready graduates with the analytical, entrepreneurial and ethical acumen that South Africa needs.

Behind this achievement stands the Young Investors Programme (UWC Investment Society), proudly hosted by the Department of Finance in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. The programme inspires students to explore the world of finance and develop the confidence to make informed investment decisions. Through mentorship, teamwork and countless hours of simulated trading, Mfeketho and Shabalala turned theory into triumph.

Their journey reminds us that success begins with curiosity — the willingness to learn, to take calculated risks, and to persist even when the market dips. It’s a story of how dreams grow when opportunity meets preparation.

As UWC continues to promote financial literacy and economic empowerment, the victory of these two young visionaries sends an electrifying message to every aspiring student: you don’t need to start with a million rand to think like a millionaire — you just need passion, purpose and perseverance.

Congratulations to Mfeketho and Shabalala — UWC’s very own market champions and shining ambassadors of what it means to dream big, think smart and invest in the future!