Rivals for the JSE

Africa’s largest stock exchange, the Johannesburg Stock Exchange in South Africa, is about to get some competition on its own turf. ZAR X, self-described as “a low-cost, simple and convenient trading platform that empowers ordinary South Africans with shareholdership opportunities,” was granted a conditional license by regulators to start trading by September. Another exchange, backed by one of South Africa’s richest black families, the Maponya Group, is awaiting its certification from the regulator. 4AX says it will focus on low-trading and moderate compliance processes to give more black-owned businesses access to the stock exchange. A third contender, A2X, says it is targeting the top 50 to 65 largest companies already listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. But the Johannesburg Stock Exchange has little to worry about, according to economist Jannie Rossouw.

Guest: Jannie Rossouw
Position: Head of the School of Economic and Business Sciences (SEBS) at Wits University. Previously he worked at the SA Reserve Bank and the University of South Africa