For six months, four Curro Foreshore learners had a virtual R1 million to invest.

Imaan Begg, Liam Herbert, Matthew Meyer and Kiara Winks make up Team FCP-BET in the 2026 JSE Investment Challenge. Their decisions across the competition have now earned them a place among South Africa’s Top 5 school teams, with their final position to be revealed at the JSE’s annual awards ceremony in Johannesburg this October.

The team has already had a taste of national success. In June, FCP-BET finished first in the Schools Equity Portfolio monthly competition with a 1.30% return, according to the JSE’s official results.

That result came during a subdued period for the markets, when teams across the competition recorded relatively low growth amid global volatility.

Six months of decisions

The JSE Investment Challenge gives participating teams a simulated R1 million portfolio and asks them to make investment decisions under conditions designed to reflect real financial markets.

FCP-BET competed in the Schools Equity Portfolio, one of several categories available to school teams.

The 2026 challenge ran from 16 March to 15 September. Teams had to remain active throughout the competition, including completing at least one trade during every game calendar month in which they participated.

That meant Imaan, Liam, Matthew and Kiara had to manage their portfolio over roughly six months, responding to market movements and considering the risks attached to their decisions.

Grade 12 Head Anda Matshikiza, who supervised the team, elaborates, ‘Through this experience, our learners have developed valuable real-world financial skills and gained insight into the dynamic nature of the financial markets.’

The competition has run for more than 50 years and forms part of the JSE’s financial-literacy work with high-school and tertiary learners. Schools and tertiary institutions from all nine provinces took part in the 2026 edition.

A national win along the way

FCP-BET’s June result provided an early indication that their approach was working.

The team topped the Schools Equity Portfolio nationally for that monthly round with its 1.30% return. By the end of the six-month competition, FCP-BET had also secured a place among the country’s Top 5 school teams.

Anda continues, ‘The JSE Investment Challenge provides learners with practical exposure to the world of investing, allowing them to build and manage portfolios while making strategic investment decisions.’

The final ranking remains under wraps. Although the annual competition ended in September, Curro Foreshore has been informed that FCP-BET finished among the country’s Top 5 school teams. The precise position will be announced when the leading school and university teams gather at the JSE in Sandown.

Waiting for one last number

For now, the four learners know where they stand broadly, even if the number beside their team name is still to come.

They have already completed a six-month investment challenge, won a national monthly round and secured their place at the final ceremony.

Anda says the school is looking forward to seeing where FCP-BET eventually lands.

‘We wish the team every success as they travel to Johannesburg for the Awards Ceremony and look forward to celebrating their final achievement.’