Volatility feels like risk. The daily noise, the red screens, the uncomfortable drawdowns - these are the stress points for investors. This is what might keep you out of the market altogether.

But what if the real risk was avoiding the markets over the long-term, rather than managing the bumps along the way?

In this episode, Satrix CIO Kingsley Williams joins The Finance Ghost to unpack one of the most powerful (and misunderstood) truths in investing: playing it safe may be the riskiest strategy of all. "Over-saving" and "under-investing" can severely damage a long-term wealth creation journey.

In this episode:

• Why volatility is uncomfortable, but not the risk you should fear most
• The concept of opportunity cost risk and how it destroys long-term returns
• How time in the market reduces the probability of capital loss
• Why equities remain the most reliable long-term hedge against inflation
• The critical difference between saving and investing (and why it matters)

Disclaimer:

Satrix Managers (RF) (Pty) Ltd is a registered and approved Manager in Collective Investment Schemes in Securities. Collective investment schemes are generally medium- to long-term investments. With Unit Trusts, Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) and Actively Managed ETFs (AMETFs), the investor essentially owns a “proportionate share” (in proportion to the participatory interest held in the fund) of the underlying investments held by the fund. With Unit Trusts, the investor holds participatory units issued by the fund while in the case of ETFs and AMETFs, the participatory interest, while issued by the fund, comprises a listed security traded on the stock exchange. ETFs and AMETFs are registered as a Collective Investment and can be traded by any stockbroker on the stock exchange, LISP platforms and / or via online trading platforms. ETFs and AMETFs may incur additional costs due to being listed on the JSE. Past performance is not necessarily a guide to future performance, and the value of investments / units may go up or down. A schedule of fees and charges, and maximum commissions is available on the Minimum Disclosure Document or upon request from the Manager. Collective investments are traded at ruling prices and can engage in borrowing and scrip lending. Should the respective portfolio engage in scrip lending, the utility percentage and related counterparties can be viewed on the ETF and AMETF Minimum Disclosure Document. AMETFs are ETFs are actively traded by a Portfolio Manager to adjust the AMETF holdings and asset allocation with the aim to outperform the benchmark. AMETFs differ from ETFs which only track indices. The Manager does not provide any guarantee, either with respect to the capital or the return of a portfolio. The index, the applicable tracking error and the portfolio performance relative to the index can be viewed on the ETF and AMETF Minimum Disclosure Document and/or on https://satrix.co.za/products.

The Finance Ghost sits down with Tokollo Tau from Nedbank CIB to unpack how South Africa’s energy landscape is evolving beyond the dark days of load shedding. What once felt like a permanent crisis has receded into the background, but the real story now is what’s being built in its place (like power wheeling and aggregation).

Against the backdrop of the Africa Energy Forum, the conversation explores the infrastructure and commercial models that are reshaping how electricity is generated, moved and sold across the country, unlocking new levels of flexibility and opportunity for businesses.

With practical examples like the multi‑billion‑rand Notsi Solar Project, Tokollo explains how aggregators are bridging the gap between generators and large energy users, helping to solve coordination challenges and accelerate investment in the sector. The discussion also highlights Eskom’s evolving role as an enabler of this ecosystem, and what a truly tradable electricity market could look like in South Africa.

The result is a compelling look at a market in transition and why this could mark the start of a far more competitive, efficient and investable energy future.

Key topics covered:

• What power wheeling and energy aggregation actually mean (without the jargon)
• How projects like Notsi Solar demonstrate the new energy ecosystem in action
• Why aggregators are critical to unlocking investment and reducing project risk
• Eskom’s shifting role in a more open, competitive electricity market
• The long-term outlook: towards a tradable electricity market and greater energy choice

The Finance Ghost welcomes Altron CEO Werner Kapp fresh off a standout capital markets day that left a strong impression: this is a business whose growth story isn’t tightly tethered to South Africa’s traditional economic constraints. From FinTech and HealthTech to telematics and IT security, Altron operates a portfolio of platform businesses that quietly underpin everyday life, even if most consumers don’t realise it!

In this conversation, Werner unpacks how these platforms drive resilient, annuity-style revenues, while also leaning into powerful structural tailwinds like digitisation, mobile adoption and the evolution of the payments ecosystem.

The discussion goes deeper into the mechanics of the Altron model. From competitive moats built over decades, to the strategic role of data, AI and capital allocation across a diversified platform base, there’s much to discuss. Werner also explains the thinking behind the group’s AI factory, its disciplined approach to growth vs margins, and why regulatory change in FinTech could unlock meaningful upside.

This is a rare, detailed look inside a South African tech business that touches millions of lives every day.

Topics in this podcast:

• Why Altron’s platform businesses can grow independently of SA GDP constraints
• The difference between platform vs IT services exposure to economic cycles
• Real-world examples of how Altron products are used daily (IDs, payments, healthcare, vehicle tracking)
• South Africa’s digital adoption curve and key structural tailwinds
• The impact of payments modernisation (PayShap, SARB reforms) on FinTech
• Building and defending a moat through data, distribution and embedded systems
• How Altron uses cross-platform data insights to enhance value
• The role and strategy behind the AI factory (and why it’s not a GPU business)
• Managing capital allocation across multiple platforms with a strong annuity base
• Growth vs margin trade-offs in a competitive tech landscape
• Netstar dynamics: OEM channels, Chinese vehicle growth and market shifts
• Fintech upside from potential direct access to payment rails
• Why Altron’s 91% annuity revenue model is central to its investment case

This podcast has been sponsored by Altron. As always, I was allowed to ask whatever I felt is relevant to investors. Please do your own research and treat this as only one part of your research process. Please always speak to a financial advisor before making any investments.