Katlehong school wins investment challenge

The school was announced the winner on September 29 after participating in the challenge since March.

Ten schools from Katlehong, including Lethukuthula, Mpilisweni, Katlehong, Katlehong Technical, Mpontseng, KwaDukathole, Phumulani, Eketsang, Ponego and Sijabulile secondary schools took part in the challenge.

Bheki Thwala, the catalyst teacher (trainer), explained the purpose of the challenge.

“The JSE Investment Challenge is an online game that aims to teach South African learners and students about investing on the JSE and the larger role that such investment plays in the country’s economy.

“The challenge helps those participating learn about the fundamentals of investment strategy and encourages them to research and strategise issues surrounding the trading of JSE-listed shares,” said Thwala.

He said participants test their share-trading skills through an ongoing annual simulated “ghost trading” programme.

“Each team is given an imaginary sum of R1-million to invest in JSE-listed shares. Their performance is tracked and measured in a competition against other teams taking part in the challenge. The top performers win fantastic prizes.

“The challenge has been creating interest in the dynamic environment of the stock market for more than 44 years,” Thwala told Kathorus MAIL.

Thwala said that the team from Lethukuthula Secondary School was made up of Grade Nine learners and that they had made the school proud.

“It is the first school in Kathorus to win the challenge since it started. The teams came position 1, 2 and 3 of the top 5,” Thwala said.

The prize-giving ceremony was on Friday, October 20, at the JSE.

The teams were as follows:

Cool Boys Lethas: Bongumenzi Hlongwa, Siyabonga Mbuyisa, Lesego Mpotoane and Siphiwe Nhlapo. They won the cheque of R21 500.

Lethas JSE Trader: Gugu Hlope, Siyabonga Mbuyira, Bongani Ndiaye and Mashila Xulu. They won R14 500.

Adorable Boys: Kathleho Mashilo, Siyabonga Mjadu, Fezile Ntsinde and Leon Sithole. They collectively won a cheque for R11 500 for their outstanding performances.

Twala said the learners won the money on behalf of the school, the supervising teacher and for themselves.

He said he started mentoring Katlehong high schools in 2012, with six schools taking part at that time.

“Then the following year I mentored 10 schools and since then I have never looked back. I’m proud of the teams. It is the first time we have won the challenge since we started participating,” Thwala said.

He said most of the learners he started with are now studying at Wits, UCT, UP and UJ.

“They are studying accounting science, business science and economics. I am proud of all this progress. I just want to make a difference in my community,” Thwala said.