Johannesburg, 09 March 2026 – The Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) today opened markets with an annual bell-ringing ceremony, joining stock exchanges around the globe in promoting gender equality. Participating bourses commemorated International Women’s Day and the 11th edition of the Ring the Bell for Gender Equality with markets opening under the theme "Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls".
The global Ring the Bell for Gender Equality campaign is spearheaded by the World Federation of Exchanges (WFE) and convenes the Sustainable Stock Exchanges Initiative, UN Global Compact, UN Women and the International Finance Corporation to encourage gender representation and parity in the workplace, marketplace and communities as well as amplify the key role of business and financial markets in turning commitments into measurable action.
Director of Marketing and Corporate Affairs at the JSE, Vuyo Lee said: “The call for gender equality is not just a moral imperative but an economic one. By opening our market with this symbolic market open, we reaffirm our stance that inclusive economies are stronger economies, more resilient and better positioned for long-term growth. When women participate fully in our financial system, our businesses, markets and society all benefit. Today’s market open is both a moment to observe progress made and a reminder of the work still ahead, and the JSE remains committed in driving meaningful, sustainable change.”
The JSE event featured a keynote by Ms Simi Ramgoolam, Executive Head: People & Organisation at Kumba Iron Ore. “Maintaining momentum, especially when there is resistance, requires collective leadership, ethical influence and the willingness to redesign systems, not just tinkering at the edges. It also requires real and uncomfortable dialogue,” said Ramgoolam. “We also need to be intentional about what helps women stay and thrive in the workplace; it’s not just about how they enter it. Women’s health and the various life stages experienced during their working lives, need to be understood, supported and respected.
The programme also included Nelson Muffuh, UN Resident Coordinator for South Africa who said, “Gender equality, the 5th Sustainable Development Goal, is not a standalone aspiration. It is a precondition for inclusive growth and decent work. Justice is not only about what happens in courtrooms, it is equally about what happens in Human Resource offices, boardrooms and across every sphere where decisions affecting people’s lives are made. That is why there is no more fitting place to have this conversation than here at the JSE, where capital allocation, corporate governance and leadership decisions are taken every day; decisions that shape the future of South Africa.”
The JSE is utilising its platform and influence to champion gender equality, reinforcing its commitment to diversity and inclusion across the financial markets ecosystem. This commitment is reflected internally, where women represent 60% of the Board and 75% of the Executive Committee, positioning the JSE among the leaders in gender representation in corporate South Africa. Additionally, the JSE’s Listings Requirements mandate that listed companies adopt a policy on gender representation at board level and report publicly on their progress, reinforcing accountability across the market.
Through flagship programmes such as SheInvests, the JSE equips women with knowledge and confidence to participate meaningfully in investment and wealth‑building opportunities. Furthermore, the JSE supports the Imbumba Foundation through the Trek4Mandela initiative, helping expand the reach of the Caring4Girls programme, which works to keep girls in school by providing menstrual products to ensure that thousands of young girls across South Africa girls can attend school confidently and consistently. As an advocate of UN SDG 5, the JSE has embedded gender equality into the core of its CSI strategy, underscoring its belief that empowering women and girls is both a moral imperative and a strategic driver of inclusive economic growth.
To learn more and register for She Invests 2026, please visit: https://www.jse.co.za/sheinvests.
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ABOUT THE JSE
The Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) has a well-established history of operating as a marketplace for trading financial products. It is a pioneering, globally connected exchange group that enables inclusive economic growth through trusted, world-class, socially responsible products, and services for the investor of the future. It offers secure and efficient primary and secondary capital markets across a diverse range of securities, spanning equities, derivatives, and debt markets. It prides itself on being the market of choice for local and international investors looking to gain exposure to leading capital markets on the African continent.
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