South Africa is Africa’s largest player in the online forex scene.
Experts say the FCSA is moving at a slow pace.
Bloomberg
South Africa is Africa’s largest player in the online forex scene. The country boasts of around 190,000 daily FX traders and over 1000 financial entities.
Additionally, the South African Rand is the most traded currency in Africa. Globally, it is the 18th most traded currency.
According to SA Shares, which details stocks listed on the
Johannesburg Stock Exchange, an average of around $25 billion USD is traded
every day in the South African FX market.
Moreover, BusinessTech puts South Africa’s total forex trading volumes including Contracts for Difference (CFDs) and Spot Trading at about $2.21 billion per day with a total daily foreign exchange volume of $20.37 billion for all FX instruments in 2019.
Estimated Number of Forex Traders in Africa
South Africa’s leading forex position in Africa has been attributed to the strong regulatory framework provided by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA).
Online forex trading is legal in the country when done with a
licensed broker.
The FSCA’s Compliance War
The FSCA, formed in 2018, is the successor to the country’s Financial Service Board of 2004 which regulated the country’s forex industry until the former’s emergence.
Although the FCSA’s framework is not yet as strong as those of foreign regulators, it is the oldest and most respected regulator on the continent. In addition, it regulates some of the foreign brokers in Africa.
In late May, the FSCA fined Brite Advisors, a financial service provider (FSP) administrative penalties of R12.5 million alongside a former director of the group, Nigel James Green, for flouting 'various financial sector laws'.
Earlier in April, the financial watchdog imposed an administrative penalty of R10 million on Smart Billion Investments’ Chief Executive Officer, Melusi Christian Ntumba, after the company invested just a 'miniscule amount' of clients' trading funds on CFDs.
Also, the body sanctioned a director of the firm, Renault Otto
Kay, with an administrative penalty of R500,000.
FSCA said the balance of the clients’ funds was expended on
withdrawal requests as well as personal and business expenses.
As well as that, Ntumba and Kay were debarred for a period of 5 and 10 years respectively.
These two recent cases are some of FSCA’s regulatory oversight activities in South Africa.
However, as a supervisory body watching over Africa’s largest forex
industry, is the FSCA doing enough to stop illegal trading?
Is the FSCA Doing Enough?
In August 2018, the FCSA instituted a new licensing regime that made it mandatory for new and existing over-the-counter derivatives providers (ODPs) to obtain an ODP license before they can offer derivative products to South Africans.
According to Fanews.co, this new regime mainly affects CFD and forex brokers, banks and other non-banking financial institutions that offer OTC derivatives to their customers.
However, while the licensing procedures have been progressing, it has been “moving quite slowly,” Heinrich Le Roux, the Managing Director (MD) of TradeFX, a forex broker review website in South Africa, told Finance Magnates.
“Some ODP applications have been in the approval process for years. IG Markets were the first to be approved and went through the wringer to get approved,” Le Roux noted.
Heinrich Le Roux, the Managing Director, TradeFX
“There are also reports of different requirements for different businesses which makes the process quite confusing for existing and potential applicants,” he added.
Le Roux noted that while the watchdog was doing its best within its current resources to weed out unlicensed operators, the “wheels of justice turn slowly.”
“Reports of investigations taking years from when first being brought to their attention is not uncommon,” he pointed out.
On his part, Daniel Chan, the Chief Technical Officer (CTO) of Marketplace Fairness, noted that there have been numerous cases of illegal trading in South Africa in recent years that the FSCA has not been able to stop.
The CTO said the watchdog was not doing enough to protect consumers and ensure that they are not being ripped off by financial services companies.
Like Le Roux, Chan pointed out that “the FSCA has been slow to act in some cases.”
“For example, the FSCA did not act until after the collapse of Steinhoff, even though there were warning signs well before the collapse,” he said.
Daniel Chan, the CTO of Marketplace Fairness
“This raises questions about the FSCA's ability to respond quickly
to potential problems in the financial services industry,” the CTO added.
Speaking further with Finance Magnates, Le Roux bemoaned the vulnerability of South Africans to the many foreign forex brokers operating in the country.
Additionally, he decried an increase in the “so-called forex gurus” who cheat
innocent people out of their money.
“South Africa is still plagued by a large number of overseas brokers who market to South African clients, and there is little or no recourse should South African customers be treated poorly,” he said.
He pointed out that this was not “something that the FSCA can control in the modern era.”
Doubling Down
Le Roux believes that while the introduction of the ODP license “is a strong step in the right direction,” the FCSA needs to act a lot quicker in investigating complaints made about any operator.
To do this, they need to have greater resources at their disposal,
he pointed out.
The TradeFX boss, who also decried the lack of sufficient engagement with industry actors in shaping legislation, called for more engagement with stakeholders.
“Greater engagement would facilitate better regulation and a better working relationship with participants to root out poor operators and protect the South African clients,” he explained.
“Ultimately, this is the mandate that the FSCA is tasked with."
South Africa is Africa’s largest player in the online forex scene. The country boasts of around 190,000 daily FX traders and over 1000 financial entities.
Additionally, the South African Rand is the most traded currency in Africa. Globally, it is the 18th most traded currency.
According to SA Shares, which details stocks listed on the
Johannesburg Stock Exchange, an average of around $25 billion USD is traded
every day in the South African FX market.
Moreover, BusinessTech puts South Africa’s total forex trading volumes including Contracts for Difference (CFDs) and Spot Trading at about $2.21 billion per day with a total daily foreign exchange volume of $20.37 billion for all FX instruments in 2019.
Estimated Number of Forex Traders in Africa
South Africa’s leading forex position in Africa has been attributed to the strong regulatory framework provided by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA).
Online forex trading is legal in the country when done with a
licensed broker.
The FSCA’s Compliance War
The FSCA, formed in 2018, is the successor to the country’s Financial Service Board of 2004 which regulated the country’s forex industry until the former’s emergence.
Although the FCSA’s framework is not yet as strong as those of foreign regulators, it is the oldest and most respected regulator on the continent. In addition, it regulates some of the foreign brokers in Africa.
In late May, the FSCA fined Brite Advisors, a financial service provider (FSP) administrative penalties of R12.5 million alongside a former director of the group, Nigel James Green, for flouting 'various financial sector laws'.
Earlier in April, the financial watchdog imposed an administrative penalty of R10 million on Smart Billion Investments’ Chief Executive Officer, Melusi Christian Ntumba, after the company invested just a 'miniscule amount' of clients' trading funds on CFDs.
Also, the body sanctioned a director of the firm, Renault Otto
Kay, with an administrative penalty of R500,000.
FSCA said the balance of the clients’ funds was expended on
withdrawal requests as well as personal and business expenses.
As well as that, Ntumba and Kay were debarred for a period of 5 and 10 years respectively.
These two recent cases are some of FSCA’s regulatory oversight activities in South Africa.
However, as a supervisory body watching over Africa’s largest forex
industry, is the FSCA doing enough to stop illegal trading?
Is the FSCA Doing Enough?
In August 2018, the FCSA instituted a new licensing regime that made it mandatory for new and existing over-the-counter derivatives providers (ODPs) to obtain an ODP license before they can offer derivative products to South Africans.
According to Fanews.co, this new regime mainly affects CFD and forex brokers, banks and other non-banking financial institutions that offer OTC derivatives to their customers.
However, while the licensing procedures have been progressing, it has been “moving quite slowly,” Heinrich Le Roux, the Managing Director (MD) of TradeFX, a forex broker review website in South Africa, told Finance Magnates.
“Some ODP applications have been in the approval process for years. IG Markets were the first to be approved and went through the wringer to get approved,” Le Roux noted.
Heinrich Le Roux, the Managing Director, TradeFX
“There are also reports of different requirements for different businesses which makes the process quite confusing for existing and potential applicants,” he added.
Le Roux noted that while the watchdog was doing its best within its current resources to weed out unlicensed operators, the “wheels of justice turn slowly.”
“Reports of investigations taking years from when first being brought to their attention is not uncommon,” he pointed out.
On his part, Daniel Chan, the Chief Technical Officer (CTO) of Marketplace Fairness, noted that there have been numerous cases of illegal trading in South Africa in recent years that the FSCA has not been able to stop.
The CTO said the watchdog was not doing enough to protect consumers and ensure that they are not being ripped off by financial services companies.
Like Le Roux, Chan pointed out that “the FSCA has been slow to act in some cases.”
“For example, the FSCA did not act until after the collapse of Steinhoff, even though there were warning signs well before the collapse,” he said.
Daniel Chan, the CTO of Marketplace Fairness
“This raises questions about the FSCA's ability to respond quickly
to potential problems in the financial services industry,” the CTO added.
Speaking further with Finance Magnates, Le Roux bemoaned the vulnerability of South Africans to the many foreign forex brokers operating in the country.
Additionally, he decried an increase in the “so-called forex gurus” who cheat
innocent people out of their money.
“South Africa is still plagued by a large number of overseas brokers who market to South African clients, and there is little or no recourse should South African customers be treated poorly,” he said.
He pointed out that this was not “something that the FSCA can control in the modern era.”
Doubling Down
Le Roux believes that while the introduction of the ODP license “is a strong step in the right direction,” the FCSA needs to act a lot quicker in investigating complaints made about any operator.
To do this, they need to have greater resources at their disposal,
he pointed out.
The TradeFX boss, who also decried the lack of sufficient engagement with industry actors in shaping legislation, called for more engagement with stakeholders.
“Greater engagement would facilitate better regulation and a better working relationship with participants to root out poor operators and protect the South African clients,” he explained.
“Ultimately, this is the mandate that the FSCA is tasked with."
Solomon Oladipupo is a journalist and editor from Nigeria that covers the tech, FX, fintech and cryptocurrency industries. He is a former assistant editor at AgroNigeria Magazine where he covered the agribusiness industry. Solomon holds a first-class degree in Journalism & Mass Communication from the University of Lagos where he graduated top of his class.
iFOREX Adds Saudi and South Korean Equity CFDs as IPO Is Delayed
Executive Interview | Charlotte Bullock | Chief Product Officer, Bank of London | FMLS:25
Executive Interview | Charlotte Bullock | Chief Product Officer, Bank of London | FMLS:25
In this interview, we sat down with Charlotte Bullock, Head of Product at The Bank of London, previously at SAP and now shaping product at one of the sector’s most ambitious new banking players.
Charlotte reflects on the Summit so far and talks about the culture inside fintech banks today. We look at the pressures that come with scaling, and how firms can hold onto the nimble approach that made them stand out early on.
We also cover the state of payments ahead of her appearance on the payments roundtable: the blockages financial firms face, the areas that still need fixing, and what a realistic solution looks like in 2026.
In this interview, we sat down with Charlotte Bullock, Head of Product at The Bank of London, previously at SAP and now shaping product at one of the sector’s most ambitious new banking players.
Charlotte reflects on the Summit so far and talks about the culture inside fintech banks today. We look at the pressures that come with scaling, and how firms can hold onto the nimble approach that made them stand out early on.
We also cover the state of payments ahead of her appearance on the payments roundtable: the blockages financial firms face, the areas that still need fixing, and what a realistic solution looks like in 2026.
In this conversation, we sit down with Drew Niv, CSO at ATFX Connect and one of the most influential figures in modern FX.
We speak about market structure, the institutional view on liquidity, and the sharp rise of prop trading, a sector Drew has been commenting on in recent months. Drew explains why he once dismissed prop trading, why his view changed, and what he now thinks the model means for brokers, clients and risk managers.
We explore subscription-fee dependency, the high reneging rate, and the long-term challenge: how brokers can build a more stable and honest version of the model. Drew also talks about the traffic advantage standalone prop firms have built and why brokers may still win in the long run if they take the right approach.
In this conversation, we sit down with Drew Niv, CSO at ATFX Connect and one of the most influential figures in modern FX.
We speak about market structure, the institutional view on liquidity, and the sharp rise of prop trading, a sector Drew has been commenting on in recent months. Drew explains why he once dismissed prop trading, why his view changed, and what he now thinks the model means for brokers, clients and risk managers.
We explore subscription-fee dependency, the high reneging rate, and the long-term challenge: how brokers can build a more stable and honest version of the model. Drew also talks about the traffic advantage standalone prop firms have built and why brokers may still win in the long run if they take the right approach.
Executive Interview | Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller| CEO & Founder Muinmos | FMLS:25
Executive Interview | Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller| CEO & Founder Muinmos | FMLS:25
In this interview, Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller, founder of Muinmos, breaks down the state of AI in regtech and what responsible adoption really looks like for brokers. We talk about rising fragmentation, the pressures around compliance accuracy, and why most firms are still in the early stages of AI maturity.
Ramanda also shares insights on regulator sandboxes, shifting expectations around accountability, and the current reality of MiCA licensing and passporting in Europe.
A concise look at where compliance, onboarding, and AI-driven processes are heading next.
In this interview, Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller, founder of Muinmos, breaks down the state of AI in regtech and what responsible adoption really looks like for brokers. We talk about rising fragmentation, the pressures around compliance accuracy, and why most firms are still in the early stages of AI maturity.
Ramanda also shares insights on regulator sandboxes, shifting expectations around accountability, and the current reality of MiCA licensing and passporting in Europe.
A concise look at where compliance, onboarding, and AI-driven processes are heading next.
In this conversation, we speak with Aydin Bonabi, CEO and co-founder of Surveill, a firm focused on fraud detection and AI-driven compliance tools for financial institutions.
We start with Aydin’s view of the Summit and the challenges brokers face as fraud tactics grow more complex. He explains how firms can stay ahead through real-time signals, data patterns, and early-stage detection.
We also talk about AI training and why compliance teams often struggle to keep models accurate, fair, and aligned with regulatory expectations. Aydin breaks down what “good” AI training looks like inside a financial environment, including the importance of clean data, domain expertise, and human oversight.
He closes with a clear message: fraud is scaling, and so must the tools that stop it.
In this conversation, we speak with Aydin Bonabi, CEO and co-founder of Surveill, a firm focused on fraud detection and AI-driven compliance tools for financial institutions.
We start with Aydin’s view of the Summit and the challenges brokers face as fraud tactics grow more complex. He explains how firms can stay ahead through real-time signals, data patterns, and early-stage detection.
We also talk about AI training and why compliance teams often struggle to keep models accurate, fair, and aligned with regulatory expectations. Aydin breaks down what “good” AI training looks like inside a financial environment, including the importance of clean data, domain expertise, and human oversight.
He closes with a clear message: fraud is scaling, and so must the tools that stop it.
Exness expands its presence in Africa: Inside our interview with Paul Margarites in Cape Town
Exness expands its presence in Africa: Inside our interview with Paul Margarites in Cape Town
Finance Magnates met with Paul Margarites, Exness regional commercial director for Sub-Saharan Africa, during a visit to the firm’s office opening in Cape Town. In this talk, led by Andrea Badiola Mateos, Co-CEO at Finance Magnates, Paul shares views on the South African trading space, local user behavior, mobile trends, regulation, team growth, and how Exness plans to grow in more markets across the region. @Exness
Read the article at: https://www.financemagnates.com/thought-leadership/exness-expands-its-presence-in-africa-inside-our-interview-with-paul-margarites/
#exness #financemagnates #exnesstrading #CFDtrading #tradeonline #africanews #capetown
Finance Magnates met with Paul Margarites, Exness regional commercial director for Sub-Saharan Africa, during a visit to the firm’s office opening in Cape Town. In this talk, led by Andrea Badiola Mateos, Co-CEO at Finance Magnates, Paul shares views on the South African trading space, local user behavior, mobile trends, regulation, team growth, and how Exness plans to grow in more markets across the region. @Exness
Read the article at: https://www.financemagnates.com/thought-leadership/exness-expands-its-presence-in-africa-inside-our-interview-with-paul-margarites/
#exness #financemagnates #exnesstrading #CFDtrading #tradeonline #africanews #capetown
