Celebrating 30 years of investment excellence: the Raging Bull Awards 2026

The Raging Bull Awards, widely regarded as the Oscars of the investment industry, will this year be sponsored by the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) and DRDGOLD. 

The prestigious ceremony, which will take place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on 13 February 2026, marks a significant milestone as the awards celebrate their 30th anniversary. For three decades, the Raging Bull Awards have honoured excellence in the collective investment schemes industry, recognising funds and managers who consistently outperform their peers and providing South African consumers with a trusted benchmark for choosing investments with confidence.

The keynote address will be delivered by Dr Leila Fourie, Group CEO of the JSE, a position she has held since 2019. With more than 30 years of international experience in banking, capital markets, and payments, she has held senior roles at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, the Australian Payments Network, and Standard Bank. Her global leadership includes serving as the inaugural Co-Chair of the UN Global Investors for Sustainable Development and joining the UN Global Compact Board in 2024. Recognised for her impact, she was named Business Woman of the Year in 2021 and received the Women in Technology Lifetime Achievement Award in 2024. Holding a PhD in Economic and Financial Sciences, Dr Fourie has published widely and is a passionate advocate for sustainable finance and policy development.

Joining her on the programme will be Niël Pretorius, Chief Executive Officer of DRDGOLD Limited, who brings more than 20 years of leadership and expertise in the mining industry. Appointed CEO in January 2009 after serving as CEO designate from August 2008, he also represents the industry as an elected Board member of the Minerals Council South Africa. 

Pretorius began his journey with DRDGOLD in 2003 as a legal adviser, advancing to Group Legal Counsel in 2004, General Manager: Corporate Services in 2005, and CEO of Ergo Mining Operations in 2006. Under his leadership, DRDGOLD has embedded sustainable development into its strategic vision, optimising assets through responsible mining while advancing corporate social investment initiatives. His commitment has shaped environmental, educational, and rehabilitation policies that continue to benefit communities and the broader industry.

The ceremony will be guided by master of ceremonies Lance Witten, a seasoned media leader with more than 25 years of experience across radio, television, print, magazines, and digital publishing. Currently editor of iol.co.za, one of South Africa’s largest and most trusted news platforms, Witten is recognised for his expertise in audience development and digital content strategy. 

Beyond his editorial leadership, he is an accomplished programme director and moderator, having officiated at numerous high-profile local and international events, including previous Raging Bull Awards ceremonies. He also contributes to the future of the media industry through his roles on the UWC Media Society board, the Journalism Advisory Council at CPUT, and the IAB Publisher Council, where he helps guide industry standards and innovation.

To ensure the credibility and prestige that the Raging Bull Awards have long enjoyed, Personal Finance has again partnered with two respected and innovative global financial services firms to act as the official data providers. Iress and Apex Group supply the market data and calculations that determine the certificate and trophy winners, reinforcing the awards’ reputation for integrity and excellence in the South African investment industry.

Iress South Africa, part of an international group headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, provides market data and wealth management software to the financial services industry. With offices across Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, Tunisia, and the UK, Iress supports more than 12 000 institutional, retail, and online traders worldwide. Its software has been the cornerstone of seamless transactions for over two decades, serving both buy-side firms such as asset managers, and sell-side firms, including investment banks. Today, Iress serves all institutional sell-side firms and the majority of buy-side firms in South Africa.

Apex Group, established in Bermuda in 2003, has continually disrupted the asset servicing industry through innovation and talent. With a team of more than 13 000 professionals across jurisdictions, the group offers a unique single-source solution and unified cross-asset-class platform that supports the entire value chain. Apex provides a broad range of services, including capital raising, business and corporate management, fund and investor administration, portfolio and investment administration, ESG, capital markets, and transaction support. These services are tailored to each client and delivered both at the group level and through specialist subsidiary brands.

With the JSE and DRDGOLD as sponsors, Iress and Apex Group as data providers, and a line-up of distinguished speakers and leaders, the 30th Raging Bull Awards promise to be a landmark celebration of excellence, innovation, and integrity in South Africa’s investment industry.

PERSONAL FINANCE