What kind of country do we want to be? Something big, something generous, something that honours the potential in every young life - not just in our dreams, but in the way we invest, save, and plan for the long term.
That’s the question behind a powerful idea put forward recently by our CEO Charles Savage:
Give every South African baby R1000 at birth. A starter sum that could grow with them over time, and help build a culture of savings and investment from day one.
“This becomes a national agenda, a national legacy. People will look back and ask what changed South Africa’s demographic - and they’ll say this did. Our observed intelligence is that once you make the first investment, the rest will follow,” he explained.
It’s not wild talk. It’s not wishful thinking. It’s rooted in real economic logic. And it’s already got influential South Africans paying attention.
As Deputy Finance Minister Ashor Sarupen told Currency, the concept “could give many, many people a good asset base” if the “guardrails” are right. He goes further, pointing out that funding this idea could be within reach if we rethink how existing social spending is directed.
Sarupen also made another striking point: with current programmes that spend billions each year on labour and skills initiatives showing limited impact on employment, shifting parts of that spend into building real, lasting financial assets for young people might change the long‑term trajectory of entire communities.
And this idea isn’t unique to us. Countries around the world - from Singapore to the USA – are putting in place or already have variations of child savings or investment starter accounts to give every child a better start in life. South Africa has the tools and the financial infrastructure - we just need the will.
Why This Matters: The Power of Investing Early
Investing has historically been one of the most effective ways to grow wealth over the long term. Starting early gives compounding the time it needs to work. And for families and communities, that can mean the difference between surviving and thriving.
We often talk about building a future we can be proud of. But a future worth building needs foundations laid long in advance - like the shade of a tree planted today, that future generations will one day rest under.
That’s why, even as we advocate for bold policy proposals like the R1000 starter investment, you don’t have to wait to make an impact in your own circle.
The TFSA: Already a Step in the Right Direction
South Africa’s Tax Free Savings Account (TFSA) is one of the smartest financial tools our government has introduced. It was designed to encourage long-term saving and investing by letting your money grow tax‑free - something that’s especially powerful over decades, not just months or years.
The existence of the TFSA shows that policymakers do have long‑term thinking on their minds - a belief that a culture of investing helps unlock financial freedom and resilience. That mindset is something worth applauding.
Maybe it’s time to look at raising the TFSA limits again - especially if we want to empower families and communities to build real wealth over generations. Imagine what could happen if more of our children’s financial journeys began with both encouragement and real capital behind them.
On EasyEquities, we’ve already seen thousands of children investing, and many through TFSAs. Some accounts are opened just days after a child is born. That’s not just possibility - that’s proof that South Africans are ready for this kind of long‑term thinking.
Take Action Today - For the Kids Around You
You don’t have to be a policymaker to make a difference.
- Open an EasyEquities account for a child - it takes just minutes, and it’s one of the best ways to start building financial habits that last a lifetime.
- Use a TFSA to let growth happen tax‑free - giving time the chance to do its magic.
- Gift EasyEquities vouchers at birthdays or special occasions - a meaningful present that keeps growing long after the party’s over.
And most importantly: share the idea.
If government hesitates - business can lead.
In the US, the private sector has stepped in to help fund child investment accounts. South African businesses could do the same, if the legislation is there to enable it. So let’s keep the pressure on. Let’s open the door.
Because real change doesn’t just come from policy - it comes from people and institutions willing to back what matters.
Let’s be those people. Let’s build that future.
