Economy
How to Invest in US Stocks in South Africa: A Comprehensive Guide From TU Experts
Reputable brokers in South Africa offer profitable and straightforward services for investing in stocks, including U.S. stocks. Traders Union experts provide the answers on how to buy shares in South Africa and highlight the best brokers for successful investing in the country.
Investment in US stocks from South Africa
TU analysts point out that South African citizens have two options for investing in U.S. stocks: using either a local stock broker or an international stock broker. International brokers provide expanded access to global markets and a diverse selection of assets, but may not be locally regulated and may have higher transaction costs. On the other hand, local brokers offer specialized services for the local market, but have limited access to international markets and investment options. Investors should consider the pros and cons of each type of broker based on their individual needs and preferences. So how to invest in US stocks in South Africa?
What is the best investment amount for me?
Starting with just 965.53 South African Rand (approximately $50), investors can buy 1-2 cheap shares in South Africa. Statistics from Finder.com reveal that 20% of South Africans invest less than R8,500, while 5% invest between R8,500 and R35,001, 2% between R35,001 and R70,000, and 6% invest over R70,000. Some experts suggest a minimum of R5000 ZAR for a successful investment, but the actual minimum varies depending on the chosen broker.
Purchasing more shares is cost-effective, with brokers recommending lots of 50 or 100 shares for ease of accumulation and tracking. Alternatively, analysts at Traders Union say that investors can consider broad market index ETFs as a low-cost option to invest in the South African stock market.
South Africa’s best brokers for buying US stocks
TU analysts emphasize that to succeed in investing in U.S. stocks in South Africa, choosing the right stockbroker is crucial.
- RoboForex: Offers a wide range of products and services, including copy trading through CopyFX, with a minimum deposit of $100. They provide access to over 12,000 stocks, indices, and ETFs across six platforms.
- IC Markets: Ideal for active traders in South Africa, offering access to over 10,000 securities, including large-cap stock CFDs with fast execution on major stock exchanges. They provide high leverage, low spreads, and multiple trading platforms.
- Exness: Known for copy trading stocks, Exness is a large and trustworthy international Forex broker, offering low spreads and a range of trading accounts with variable spreads.
Selecting the right broker can significantly impact your investment journey and potential returns.
What is the best way to start trading stocks in South Africa?
Investing in U.S. stocks in South Africa can be both simple and daunting. To get started, you need to open an account with either a local or international broker, depending on the stocks you want to purchase. Here are some quick tips from Experts at Traders Union:
- Understand the stock market’s definition and workings.
- Learn how to trade shares and choose a trustworthy broker.
- Request access to price information for the stocks you want to trade.
- Build a diversified trading plan and analyze the market.
- Select a share or top ETF to trade, considering risks, charges, and available stocks.
- Complete the registration process for your chosen broker to open a share trading account.
- Look for stock trading opportunities and manage your positions carefully.
- When choosing an international broker, check fees, available currency pairs, and assets.
- Remember that buying stock abroad requires selling it there, with different commissions and fees for international trades involving U.S. stocks.
Conclusion
Investing in U.S. stocks in South Africa is made accessible by reputable brokers offering straightforward services. TU experts provided valuable information on buying shares in South Africa and highlighted the best brokers for successful investing.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The chief executive of HBM Nigeria Plc (formerly Lafarge Africa), Mr Lolu Alade-Akinyemi, said the cement producer is expected to add 4.5 million tonnes to its production capacity by January 2027.
HBM Nigeria Plc is positioning itself for stronger long-term competitiveness, market leadership and job creation as it accelerates expansion projects.
The transition to HBM Nigeria marks a new phase of growth, driven by operational excellence, sustainability, innovation, and infrastructure development, while maintaining its long-standing commitment to Nigeria’s construction sector.
Mr Alade-Akinyemi, speaking recently in Lagos, said the ongoing expansion of the company’s Ashaka and Sagamu plants would significantly boost local production, create employment opportunities, and support businesses across its value chain.
“We recently announced the expansion of the Sagamu plant in Ogun State and the Ashaka plant in Gombe State. Hopefully, in January 2027, we will commission both plants, adding 4.5 million tonnes to our capacity. Traditionally, building a new plant takes about three years, but this is one of the benefits of belonging to the Huaxin Group,” he said.
According to him, the projects will generate employment, create opportunities for young people and women, strengthen local suppliers and contractors, and contribute further to Nigeria’s economic growth.
“There are many vacancies we are trying to fill in Sagamu and Ashaka. Beyond direct employment, we are creating opportunities for small businesses, developing suppliers and supporting local contractors. This is an exciting period because it will deliver significant benefits to Nigeria,” he said.
Mr Alade-Akinyemi noted that while the company’s corporate identity had changed following its acquisition by Huaxin Building Materials Group, its core values and commitment to customers, host communities, employees and shareholders remain unchanged.
He said HBM Nigeria traces its roots to 1959 as West African Portland Cement Company (WAPCO), with its first cement plant commencing operations in Ewekoro, Ogun State, in 1961.
Since then, he said, the company has grown into one of Nigeria’s leading building solutions providers with integrated plants in Ewekoro, Sagamu, Ashaka and Mfamosing.
He added that the company, which became publicly listed in 1979, has continued to expand through acquisitions and transformation while maintaining high product quality, innovation and responsible operations.
Highlighting the strengths of its parent company, Alade-Akinyemi described Huaxin Building Materials as a globally recognised building materials manufacturer founded in 1907 and headquartered in Wuhan, China, with operations across 16 regions in China and 14 countries worldwide.
He said Huaxin’s engineering expertise and focus on research and development would strengthen HBM Nigeria’s operations and help close engineering skills gaps in the country.
“As HBM Nigeria, we are strategically positioned for long-term competitiveness and stronger market leadership while reinforcing our commitment to supporting Nigeria’s infrastructure development and economic progress after more than six decades of industry leadership,” he said.
He also said sustainability would remain central to the company’s operations, noting that it had introduced lower-carbon products and continued to invest in environmentally friendly production processes.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) distributed about N2.550 trillion from the revenue generated by the nation in June 2026 to the three tiers of government after its July meeting in Abuja.
A statement signed by the Director of Press in the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, Mr Bawa Mokwa, “The N2.550 trillion total distributable revenue comprised N1.809 trillion in distributable statutory revenue and N740.724 billion in distributable Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue.”
It was gathered that a total gross revenue of N4.500 trillion was available in June 2026, with deductions for the cost of collection amounting to N160.744 billion, and transfers and refunds at N1.789 trillion.
According to a communiqué after the gathering, gross statutory revenue of N3.700 trillion was received in June 2026, N1.049 trillion higher than the N2.651 trillion received in the preceding month, while gross revenue of N799.746 billion was generated from VAT, N56.058 billion higher than the N743.688 billion recorded in May 2026.
It was stated that from the N2.550 trillion total distributable revenue, the federal government received N923.438 billion, the state governments got N838.208 billion, while the local government councils were given N591.390 billion, with N197.610 billion allocated to the benefiting states as 13 per cent of mineral derivation revenue.
From the N1.809 trillion distributable statutory revenue, the federal government went away with N849.366 billion, states shared N430.810 billion, local councils took N332.136 billion, while the benefiting states got N197.610 billion as derivation revenue.
From the N740.724 billion distributable VAT earnings, the central government got N74.072 billion, the states received N407.398 billion, and the local government councils were allocated N259.253 billion.
The communiqué further stated that in June 2026, collections from Companies Income Tax (CIT), Capital Gains Tax (CGT), Stamp Duties (SDT), Petroleum Royalties, Gas Flare Penalties, Rent, Mineral Oil Royalties (MOR), Value Added Tax (VAT), Import Duty, and Common External Tariff (CET) Levies increased significantly, while Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT), Hydrocarbon Tax (HT), Mineral Royalties, and Fees declined considerably. Excise Duty recorded only a marginal increase.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) says the rollout of electronic invoicing (e-invoicing) will strengthen tax compliance, curb revenue leakages and improve transparency in tax administration as it moves to fully digitise the country’s tax system.
The Project Lead for the NRS e-Invoicing Project, Mr Mohammed Bawa, stated this at the DigiTax E-Invoicing Compliance Breakfast Session held in Lagos on Wednesday.
The event, organised by DigiTax, an NRS-accredited e-invoicing platform, formed part of efforts to support the agency’s ongoing education and sensitisation campaign on the e-invoicing mandate.
Mr Bawa said the initiative aligns with global trends in tax digitisation and is expected to help improve Nigeria’s tax-to-GDP ratio, which remains one of the lowest in Africa.
According to him, the system will provide the NRS with greater visibility into transactions across sectors, formalise activities within the informal economy and standardise invoice formats nationwide using globally recognised invoice schemas.
He added that e-invoicing would improve operational efficiency for both businesses and tax authorities while supporting the NRS’ transition from manual and electronic tax administration processes to a fully automated system-to-system interaction model.
Mr Bawa noted that the legal framework for implementation is backed by the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, which prescribes penalties for non-compliance.
He disclosed that the NRS has completed onboarding large taxpayers and is preparing to enforce compliance with defaulting entities.
According to him, medium taxpayers are expected to begin compliance in the third quarter of 2026, while onboarding of emerging taxpayers will commence in 2027, with full adoption targeted for all taxpayers by the end of 2028.
Mr Bawa urged taxpayers yet to be onboarded onto the platform to begin the process and work with accredited service providers to ensure compliance.
On his part, Country Director of DigiTax Nigeria, Mr Olumide Akinsola, urged businesses to look beyond their internal systems and assess the compliance status of suppliers and counterparties.
He warned that businesses whose suppliers fail to transmit invoices through the MBS platform risk losing eligibility to claim Value Added Tax (VAT) input credits on such transactions, describing the resulting supply chain exposure as a significant commercial risk that many organisations have yet to quantify.
Mr Akinsola also announced the launch of DigiTax’s white paper, The State of E-Invoicing Readiness in Nigeria, which examines compliance adoption trends and the readiness gap across different taxpayer segments.
He added that DigiTax operates in Nigeria, Kenya, Zambia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), noting that experience from those markets shows businesses that integrate early are better positioned to avoid disruptions when enforcement begins.
