A prosperous and sustainable Africa remains a distant prospect for millions if they are not exposed to three crucial enablers – comprehension of financial services, access to affordable green energy and global conversations that are Africa-inclusive. These are but a handful of focused visions of JSE member Sinayo Securities (part of a now-diversified group of companies), a stock trading business. This 100% female-led, owned and managed company prefers to focus on advancing Africa’s needs by developing sustainable solutions. Babalwa Ngonyama, executive director, CEO, founder and shareholder, explains that foremost, even before its own profit consideration, every aspect of the business must play a meaningful role in society.

‘This is what females are meant to do. They carry the insights of all humanity. At essence we are creators, owners and carers. We should not be content to accept a standard 2% to 5% offering of anything. This type of attitude sets a bias against African women who have been left behind, be that in mining or any of the other traditional businesses, and why we are intent on women playing a significant role in our new business ventures.’

There are currently three arms to Sinayo Global – Sinayo Securities, which is focused on SA equities and trading for institutional investors; Sinayo Energy, which is pioneering renewable energy for a greener world; and Sinayo Hospitality, which is touching lives by celebrating the human potential and spirit of international unity, and turning moments into lasting memories by advancing the ability of Africans to attend major global sporting events.

These three are synergised by Sinayo’s roll-out of a globalisation strategy that has, over the past near decade, seen it gain a firm foothold presence in SA, the DRC, Tanzania, Mozambique and Zambia as well as in Australia, China, Singapore and the Netherlands, where Sinayo Global is headquartered.

‘We have also recently elevated our SA financial services business to operate in more than 90 markets through an agreement with the GTN Group, which will soon manifest in a new global trading platform,’ says Ngonyama. ‘This ties in well with our Camissa Asset Management business where we have had incredibly positive reviews in terms of the performance of customer assets.’ Camissa was preceded by Sinayo’s expansion with a derivatives company, a securities lending business and a short-term insurance business.

Africa energy solution

Empowering a sustainable tomorrow by illuminating Africa’s future drives the energy side of Sinayo. ‘Firstly we have seriously acknowledged that energy demands are high across the continent,’ says Ngonyama. This is confirmed by the International Energy Agency, which reports that more than 600 million people on the continent currently live without access to electricity.

Ngonyama’s second point is that green energy is transformative for communities that are struggling with the burden of living without power. ‘This is an extremely power-hungry continent. We can’t just fold our arms and wait for help from the East or West. We owe it to ourselves to address our own needs collaboratively.’

Sinayo stands out in the energy sector with its distinctive approach of forming partnerships with local entrepreneurs and enterprises that are the catalysts in facilitating the green energy drive. ‘These businesses protect and defend our business. They also ensure that we provide solutions that are relevant to their communities.’

Sinayo’s strong entrepreneurial approach has been pivotal in cultivating enduring connections with clients and key stakeholders. These bonds are fortified by a shared commitment to integrity, trust and respect, and a significant investment in understanding the different African nations’ cultures.

Hospitality drives Africans to sports events

Sinayo Hospitality is transformative in that not only does it provide comprehensive travel solutions to Africans who wish to attend global sporting events, from tickets to accommodation, but turns their dreams into reality.

‘It’s also about introducing them to environments where they meet other like-minded international sports enthusiasts, where they can learn about one another’s cultures and push the African agenda,’ says Ngonyama. She is an avid believer in sports being an enabler for the promotion of an African ethos, one that speaks to social cohesion.

‘At Sinayo we touch lives by celebrating the human potential and spirit of international unity turning these moments into lasting memories. We took South Africans to Paris during the 2023 Rugby World Cup and, currently, we are servicing Olympic enthusiasts who will be going to Paris,’ says Ngonyama.

Social responsibility

Care is also emphasised by Sinayo’s philanthropic arm. One of its initiatives is its Golden Ark house in Soweto. This is a refuge for children, largely those who come from child-headed households, regardless of the school they attend. ‘They are provided with breakfast before school, lunch after school and tutoring,’ says Ngonyama.

Yet another social responsibility act close to Ngonyama’s heart is Project Funda. Every year, 20 graduates who are pursuing a degree in financial services are selected – sourced from universities and business clients. They are mentored, lectured, financially assisted and exposed to specific trending discussions, such as the Government of National Unity; what it means and how it works; and how to operate in global markets. They complete their studies with capabilities that will allow them to participate effectively in boardrooms and their workplaces.

Within the standard two-year programme, which has seen some 100 graduates assisted, are quarterly one- or two-week events where graduates are trained in managing asset portfolios and introduced to some of SA’s leading CEOs. ‘They learn how to be resilient, including business etiquette rules, which ultimately drives them to be highly professional,’ says Ngonyama.

So popular is Project Funda and its results that even artists and sportspeople have applied to attend Sinayo courses to help them better understand and manage their money. ‘Sportspeople are at their financial earning peak up to around age 30, but find it difficult to live beyond that age in terms of their lifestyle because they do not receive the right financial advice,’ says Ngonyama.

Looking ahead

Inter-personal relationships and global partnerships continue to be explored. ‘It’s literally driven our globalisation drive,’ says Ngonyama. ‘We had been talking about globalisation for years, but now it’s happening. We are no longer planning – we have the partners, we are on the ground running, and we are going to spend the next 24 months nurturing the businesses and partnerships we have now, before we move into new markets.’

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