Wits SEF

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This week on , we feature Dr Delane Naidu, who co-authored a paper titled: “The impact of foreign ownership on the performance of Johannesburg Stock Exchange-listed firms: A blessing or a curse?”

As taken from the abstract:
"The impact of foreign ownership on firm performance is debated in the literature from both a theoretical and empirical perspective. This study examines the effect of foreign ownership on the performance of nonfinancial firms listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange from 2012 to 2018. Using the system generalised method of moments approach to account for endogeneity, foreign ownership is found to have a positive impact on return on equity at levels of foreign ownership below 40.1% but a negative effect at higher levels. Foreign ownership has no impact on return on assets or Tobin's q. The implications of these findings are discussed"

📄 Read the full paper here: https://doi.org/10.1111/saje.12302

📍 CALL FOR PAPERS: 3rd Wits Global Climate Finance Conference

The Wits Fintech Hub in the School of Economics and Finance will be hosting two concurrent conferences in Cape Town from Wednesday, 28 October to Friday, 30 October 2026.

The second conference, the 3rd Wits Global Climate Finance Conference, will take place on 29-30 October 2026 under the theme: “Mobilizing Capital for a Just and Resilient Net-Zero World”

The Call for Papers is now open!
We invite scholars, researchers, entrepreneurs, policymakers, financial experts, and climate advocates to submit original research papers, case studies, and presentations for the Wits Global Climate Finance Conference.

The topics of interest (but not limited to):
• AI and Machine Learning for Optimizing Sustainable Investments
• AI & Quantum Computing Applications in Climate Finance Modeling
• Blockchain and IoT for Transparent Carbon Credit Markets
• Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS): Techno-Economic Feasibility
• Carbon Markets and Pricing
• Circular Economy and Sustainable Supply Chain Finance
• Climate Data Analytics and Predictive Modeling
• Climate Finance Trends and Global Overview
• Climate Risk Assessment and Management
• Climate-Resilient Infrastructure Finance
• Decarbonizing Industrial Processes Through Innovative Technologies
• Digital Twins for Sustainable Infrastructure Financing
• Economic Impact of Climate Finance
• Energy Systems Modeling for a Carbon-Neutral Economy
• Green Bonds and Sustainable Debt Instruments
• Hydrogen Economy: Techno-Economic Pathways and Challenges
• Impact Investing for Environmental Sustainability
• Next-Generation Cleaner Technologies and Financial Incentives

IMPORTANT DATES TO NOTE:
📌 Paper submission deadline: Wednesday, 2 September 2026
📌 Registration deadline: Wednesday, 16 September 2026

Follow this link for more info: https://www.wits.ac.za/sef/fintech-hub/conferences/gcfc2025/

📍 CALL FOR PAPERS: 3rd Wits Global Fintech Conference 2026

The Wits Fintech Hub in the School of Economics and Finance will be hosting two concurrent conferences in Cape Town from Wednesday, 28 October to Friday, 30 October 2026.

The first conference, the 3rd Wits Global Fintech Conference, will take place on 28–29 October 2026 under the theme: “Shaping the Architecture of the Future Financial System”

The Call for Papers is now open!
Researchers, academics, industry professionals, and practitioners are invited to submit papers exploring the evolving role of fintech in shaping the future of financial systems.

The topics of interest (but not limited to):
• 5G, 6G, Web 3.0, and Emerging Technologies
• Artificial Intelligence
• Augmented and Virtual Reality, NFTs, & Metaverse
• Big data, Machine learning, Data Science and Predictive Analytics
• Blockchain Technologies & Crypto Assets
• Cloud Computing and Edge Technologies
• Consumer protections, global regulatory framework, & Intellectual property
• Crowdfunding, Peer to peer lending, and Payments ecosystems
• Cybersecurity & Risk Management
• Econometrics, Advanced modelling, Alternative data, and Data alchemy
• Energy-Efficient Algorithms for Digital Assets
• Ethics, Bias, & Data privacy
• Financial Inclusion, and Digital identity
• High-Performance Computing, Quantum Computing, & Cryptography

IMPORTANT DATES TO NOTE:
📌 Paper submission deadline: Wednesday, 2 September 2026
📌 Registration deadline: Wednesday, 16 September 2026

Follow this link for more info: https://www.wits.ac.za/sef/fintech-hub/conferences/gcf2025/

The School of Economics and Finance came out to support the Wits - University of the Witwatersrand Mandela Day Challenge on Thurs, 30 July. 💙💛

A sincere thank you to the SEF staff who generously contributed on behalf of the School. Your kindness and compassion made this initiative possible, demonstrating the power of coming together to make a meaningful difference.

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This week on , we feature Prof Christopher Malikane, who authored a paper titled: “The South African capitalist class: size and composition, 2000–2019”

As taken from the abstract:
"This article uses a Marxist approach to conduct an empirical analysis of the size and composition of the South African capitalist class. Based on data from the country’s Labour Force Surveys, it finds that 3% of the South African population belong to the capitalist class. This analysis decomposes this class in terms of race and gender. Over the period 2000 to 2010, the years when transactions under the country’s Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment legislative framework were at their height, the Black component of the capitalist class declined from 43% to 29%, while the White component increased from 45% to 54%.

As of 2019, the racial composition of the capitalist class in the formal sector is 40% African, 45% White, 9% Indian and 6% Coloured/mixed race. This, however, does not take into account the size of capital ownership due to data limitations. The article concludes that the policies to create a substantial Black South African capitalist class have failed to deracialise the class as a whole."

📄 Read the full paper here: https://doi.org/10.62191/ROAPE-2026-0016

🎉 Global recognition for Wits Finance!

Wits - University of the Witwatersrand has become the latest university to be welcomed into the CFA Institute University Affiliation Program. Its Bachelor of Commerce Finance programme has been acknowledged as incorporating at least 70 percent of the CFA Program Candidate Body of Knowledge (CBOK) and placing emphasis on the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct within the course.

Offered by the School of Economics and Finance, the Wits Finance programme is one of South Africa's leading undergraduate finance programmes. As part of the three-year BCom Finance degree, it is uniquely built on the two core pillars of Corporate Finance and Investment, providing students with a strong foundation in both theory and practice.

This affiliation recognises the academic rigour of the programme and its alignment with globally recognised industry standards, further strengthening the preparation of Wits graduates for successful careers in finance and investment.

Congratulations to our staff, students, alumni, and everyone who has contributed to the continued excellence of the Wits Finance programme.

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This week on , we feature Dr Kenneth Creamer, who recently contributed a book chapter titled "Tracing the Historical Structure of Economic Growth in South Africa and Identifying Policies for Inclusive Growth and Redistribution" to the book: Three Decades of South African Democracy, Volume 1.

As taken from the abstract:
"This chapter analyses South Africa’s post-apartheid economic performance, focusing on growth patterns and structural impediments to inclusion. Through a historical and policy-orientated lens, it critiques existing growth models and explores alternatives aimed at equitable redistribution. The analysis underscores the need for productivity-enhancing land reform, energy transition and industrialisation. A framework for inclusive policy reform is proposed, with emphasis on institutional coherence and sustainable development."

📄 Read the full paper here: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-06448-6_5

🌍 Join us in Cape Town this October for two exciting conferences hosted by the Wits Fintech Hub, bringing together leading researchers, policymakers, industry experts and postgraduate students to explore the future of financial technology and climate finance.

📍 Venue: Waterfront, Cape Town
📅 Dates: Wednesday, 28 October – Friday, 30 October 2026

First Conference details:
🔹 3rd Wits Global Fintech Conference | 28–29 October 2026
Theme: Shaping the Architecture of the Future Financial System
Follow this link for more info: https://www.wits.ac.za/sef/fintech-hub/conferences/gcf2025/

Second Conference details:
🔹 3rd Wits Global Climate Finance Conference | 29–30 October 2026
Theme: Mobilizing Capital for a Just and Resilient Net-Zero World
Follow this link for more info: https://www.wits.ac.za/sef/fintech-hub/conferences/gcfc2025/

📣 Call for papers and registration are now open for both conferences.
Whether you're a researcher, academic, practitioner or postgraduate student, we invite you to share your work, exchange ideas and connect with colleagues from around the world as we explore the innovations shaping the future of finance.

📌 Important Dates
• Early Registration: Up to Sat, 15 Aug 2026
• Normal Registration: Sun, 16 Aug 2026 - Wed, 16 Sept
• Paper submission deadline: Wednesday, 2 Sept 2026

We look forward to welcoming you to Cape Town for two thought-provoking conferences and meaningful conversations that will help shape the future of financial systems and climate finance.

One of our Economics lecturer, Ms Lesego Masenya sat down with Dr Kingsley Okere, a Postdoctoral Fellow in the School of Economics and Finance (SEF), to discuss his recent achievement at the CLM Teaching and Research Excellence Awards and how he successfully published 15 journal articles in a single academic year.

In this insightful interview, Dr Okere shares his research interests, reflects on his publication journey, and offers practical tips for aspiring researchers.

🎥 Watch the full interview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGhXmagU2NI

Research Productivity Tips | Dr Kingsley Okere Dr Kingsley Okere, Postdoctoral Fellow in the Wits School of Econom...

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We are excited to share that Prof Moinak Maiti has been awarded the National Research Foundation of South Africa (NRF) B3 rating.

The B3 rating recognises researchers who enjoy considerable international recognition for the high quality and impact of their research contributions.

Congratulations Prof Maiti on this outstanding and well-deserved achievement 🎉 . Your dedication to research excellence continues to inspire our academic community.