JSE South Africa News

FirstRand's Cape Water Performance-Based Bond Lists on JSE

The Johannesburg Stock Exchange has listed Africa's first Nature-Linked Performance-Based Bond, the FirstRand Bank Cape Water Performance-Based Bond (FR31PB), a R2.5 billion issuance. The bond links part of investors' returns to independently verified ecological restoration outcomes, specifically removing invasive plant species from priority water catchment areas in South Africa to increase water flows into storage dams. The transaction involved RMB as arranger and structurer, with co-anchor investors including the International Finance Corporation, FSD Africa Investments, and Aluwani Capital Partners.

JSE Announces 12 South African SMEs Selected for 2026 Accelerator Programme

The Johannesburg Stock Exchange announced the 12 small and medium enterprises selected for the 2026 cohort of its SME Rise Enterprise Accelerator Programme. The eight-month programme, delivered in collaboration with the UK–South Africa Tech Hub, focuses on equipping tech-focused South African SMEs with tools to scale sustainably, access new markets, and improve investment readiness. The announcement marks the programme's fifth year, following Cohort 4 participants who achieved average revenue growth of 17% and headcount growth of 16% within nine months.

ETFSA Oyster Global Balanced Prescient AMETF Listed on JSE Main Board

The JSE has listed the ETFSA Oyster Global Balanced Prescient Actively Managed ETF (AMETF) on the Main Board. The portfolio employs a global balanced multi-asset strategy with a strategic allocation of 75% to global growth assets and 25% to global interest-bearing assets, targeting investors with a moderate to high risk profile and a minimum seven-year investment horizon. Trading under the share code "OYSTER", the fund is housed within the Prescient ETF Scheme, with ETFSA Portfolio Management Company serving as originator and asset manager.