How to Buy ETFs in South Africa

If you understand what an ETF is and you’re ready to actually buy one, this guide walks you through every step — choosing a platform, opening an account, funding it, picking an ETF, and placing your first order. If you’re not sure what an ETF is yet, start with my ETF explainer first, then come back here.

Disclaimer: I am not a financial advisor. This information is for educational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. Always do your own research and consider seeking advice from a qualified financial professional before making any investment decisions.

Step 1: Choose a platform

You need an account on a platform that gives you access to JSE-listed ETFs. The main options in South Africa:

Platform	Min. investment	Monthly fee	TFSA?	Best for
EasyEquities	R5	R0-R25	Yes	Beginners, low minimums, fractional ETFs
SatrixNOW	R500/month	R0	Yes	Low-cost Satrix ETFs via debit order
FNB Securities	R100	R0 (FNB clients)	Yes	Existing FNB clients
Standard Bank OST	~R1,000	R0	Yes	Existing Standard Bank clients
Sygnia	R500/month	R0	Yes	Low-cost index investing (Sygnia funds)

Fees and minimums change, so verify the current figures on each platform’s website before opening an account. The key things to compare: brokerage per trade, any monthly platform fees, the range of ETFs available, and whether the platform offers a TFSA wrapper.

EasyEquities

South Africa’s most popular retail platform. No minimum investment (you can buy a fraction of an ETF from around R5), no monthly account fee, and access to 50+ local ETFs plus US stocks. Brokerage is around 0.25% per trade. If you’re starting out, this is where most people begin. You can open an EasyEquities account online in minutes.

SatrixNOW

Satrix’s own platform. It gives you access to the full Satrix ETF range with no brokerage on monthly debit orders — making it the cheapest way to invest regularly in Satrix ETFs. The trade-off: it only offers Satrix-branded ETFs, so if you want funds from other providers, use EasyEquities instead.

Your bank’s platform

FNB Securities and Standard Bank Online Share Trading integrate directly with your existing bank account, which is convenient if you already bank with them. The ETF range is decent and TFSA accounts are available. Brokerage tends to be slightly higher than EasyEquities for small trades.

Step 2: Open your account and complete FICA

Once you’ve chosen a platform, you need to open an account and verify your identity. This is a legal requirement in South Africa under FICA (the Financial Intelligence Centre Act). You’ll need:

A copy of your ID document or passport.
Proof of address — a utility bill, bank statement, or rates invoice in your name, dated within the last 3 months.
Your bank details for funding and withdrawals.

Most platforms let you upload these documents online or via their app. The whole process usually takes 10–15 minutes, and your account is typically approved within 24–48 hours.

Step 3: Fund your account

Before you can buy anything, you need money in your platform account. The options are usually:

EFT / bank transfer — the most common method. You transfer rands from your bank account to the platform. Funds typically reflect within 1–2 business days.
Monthly debit order — set up an automatic monthly transfer for a fixed amount. This is the best option for most long-term investors because it enforces consistency.
Instant payment — some platforms support immediate funding via PayShap or similar services.

Step 4: Choose your ETF(s)

This is where most beginners freeze — there are dozens of ETFs on the JSE. Don’t overthink it. Here’s what to look at:

What index it tracks. The JSE Top 40 gives you South Africa’s biggest companies. The S&P 500 gives you the US. The MSCI World gives you the developed world. Start with a broad market index rather than a niche sector.
Total Expense Ratio (TER). Lower is better. Most broad-market ETFs charge 0.10%–0.40% per year.
Tracking error. How closely the ETF follows its index. Check the Minimum Disclosure Document (MDD) on the fund manager’s website.
Dividend or accumulator. Some ETFs pay dividends out to you; others reinvest them automatically. For long-term growth, reinvesting is usually better.

Good starting points for a first ETF: the JSE Top 40 for local exposure, the Satrix MSCI World for global exposure, or the S&P 500 for US exposure. You don’t need all three on day one — start with one and build from there.

Step 5: Place your order

On your platform, search for the ETF by name or JSE code (for example, STX40 for the Satrix Top 40). You’ll see the current price and a buy screen. You have two main order types:

Market order — buys at the current market price immediately. Simple, but you don’t control the exact price.
Limit order — sets a maximum price you’re willing to pay. The order only fills if the ETF drops to that price. Useful if you want to buy at a specific level.

ETFs trade during JSE market hours (9:00–17:00 South African time, weekdays). On platforms like EasyEquities, you can buy fractional units — so if one ETF unit costs R100 and you only have R50, you buy half a unit. This removes the barrier of high share prices.

Step 6: Set up a strategy

Buying once is fine, but the real magic happens when you invest consistently. Two approaches:

Monthly debit order. Set up an automatic monthly investment (even R500 a month). This is the single most effective habit for most investors — it removes the need to time the market and builds wealth steadily.
Dollar-cost averaging. Investing the same amount at regular intervals means you buy more units when prices are low and fewer when they’re high, smoothing out volatility over time. See my guide to dollar-cost averaging for why this beats trying to time the market.

What it costs

When you buy ETFs, you pay three layers of cost:

Platform brokerage — a small percentage per trade (e.g. ~0.25% on EasyEquities). Some platforms waive this on debit orders.
The ETF’s TER — the annual fee for running the fund, deducted automatically from the ETF’s price. Typically 0.10%–0.40% for broad-market ETFs.
The bid-ask spread — the small difference between the buy and sell price. For liquid ETFs this is negligible.

The total of these should be well under 1% per year for a broad-market ETF — far cheaper than a typical unit trust. For more on how ETF fees compare to unit trusts, see my Unit Trusts vs ETFs comparison.

Should you hold your ETFs in a TFSA?

Almost certainly yes — for the portion you’re investing for the long term. A Tax-Free Savings Account shields all your dividends, interest, and capital gains from tax forever. Most JSE-listed ETFs are TFSA-eligible, and because ETFs are growth assets that compound over decades, the tax savings can be enormous.

The catch: your TFSA has a lifetime contribution limit (R500,000), so you can’t put everything in it. Prioritise your highest-growth ETFs inside the TFSA. Read my complete TFSA guide for the rules, limits, and how to open one.

Common mistakes to avoid

Waiting for the “perfect” time to start. There’s never a perfect time. Time in the market beats timing the market. Start now, even with a small amount.
Over-trading. ETFs are long-term holdings. Buying and selling frequently racks up brokerage and triggers CGT, with no benefit. Buy, hold, and check in occasionally.
Ignoring fees. A 0.20% TER and a 0.50% TER sound similar, but over 30 years the difference is significant. Always check the TER before buying.
Not using your TFSA. If you’re investing in ETFs for the long term and not using a TFSA, you’re paying tax you don’t need to.

The bottom line

Buying an ETF in South Africa comes down to six steps: pick a platform (EasyEquities for most beginners), open an account and FICA, fund it, choose a broad-market ETF, place your order, and set up a monthly debit order so you keep investing automatically. Then hold for the long term — ideally inside a TFSA.

The platform you choose matters far less than simply starting. Open an account today, buy your first ETF, and let time do the heavy lifting.

Want to get started now? You can join EasyEquities and buy your first ETF from as little as R5.

Frequently asked questions

What’s the minimum to invest in an ETF?
On EasyEquities, from around R5 thanks to fractional investing. On SatrixNOW, R500/month for a debit order. There’s no reason to wait until you have “enough” — start with what you have.

Which platform is cheapest?
For regular monthly investing in Satrix ETFs, SatrixNOW (no brokerage on debit orders). For flexible investing across multiple providers, EasyEquities (~0.25% per trade, no monthly fee). Always compare the total cost — brokerage plus the ETF’s TER.

Do I need a broker or financial advisor?
No. You can open an account and buy ETFs yourself on any of the platforms above. A financial advisor can help with broader planning, but they’re not required to buy ETFs.

Can I lose money?
Yes. ETFs go up and down with the market. Over the long term, broad-market ETFs have historically grown, but you can lose money over any period. Only invest money you don’t need in the short term.

Should I buy one ETF or several?
Start with one broad-market ETF. As your portfolio grows, you can add a second for diversification (e.g. a local ETF plus a global ETF). See my three-fund portfolio guide for a simple multi-ETF approach.