Commencing in Cape Town, a thought-provoking ‘Funds Focus on South Africa’ roundtable took place at the scenic Spier Wine Farm. Led by Dr Rufaro Nyakatawa, our Business Development Consultant – Africa, and expertly moderated by Elliot Refson, our Head of Funds, the session delved into Jersey’s evolution as an IFC.

Following this insightful discussion, an exclusive networking reception provided a platform for speakers, including Thiru Pather, Investment Principal at the SA SME Fund; Mauna Mahlare, Head: Multi-Management: Private Markets, at Public Investment Corporation; and Trishanta Dheepnarayan, Director and Principal at Metier, to share valuable perspectives on the current landscape for South African fund managers.

The next stop was the Southern African Venture Capital & Private Equity Association (SAVCA) Private Equity Conference at the Cavalli Estate, Stellenbosch. The annual conference, which we have proudly sponsored many times, aims to facilitate relationship-building amongst industry stakeholders and highlight the value private equity can bring to the region.

For the final ‘Funds Focus on South Africa’ roundtable, Rufaro and Elliot headed to the Sanctuary Mandela in Johannesburg, a venue which was once the primary place of residence of Nelson Mandela.

Jersey acts as a bridge for European capital-raising and inward African investment, with South Africa ranking fifth as the country of origin for the total number of Jersey-domiciled funds (Monterey Insight, 2022). This week’s events and activity affirms our commitment to fostering mutually beneficial partnerships with South Africa, further solidifying our position as an IFC of choice for South African fund managers seeking stability, tax simplicity and cost efficiency.