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75-90% of retail traders lose money trading Forex and CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs and leveraged trading work and if you can afford the high risk of losing your money. We may receive compensation when you click on links to products we review. Please read our advertising disclosure. By using this website, you agree to our Terms of Service.

AuthorAuthor: Jeffrey CammackPublished: October 14, 2019
EditorEditor: Alison HeyerdahlUpdated: February 14, 2024

Last Updated On February 14, 2024

Jeffrey Cammack

The Financial Sector Conduct Authority, formerly the FSB, is the government agency responsible for regulating South African brokers. Although the FSCA isn’t the strictest regulator in the world, it has put in place several rules to protect Forex traders better. One of these measures is that Forex brokers operating in South Africa have to segregate their client funds from their operational funds and are inspected regularly to ensure they are safe. 

We understand that traders have different needs. Beginner traders may want a broker with excellent educational materials, while more experienced traders may look for a broker with fast execution and advanced trading tools. Others want high levels of leverage or low deposit accounts. The FSCA-regulated brokers below cater to these differing needs but are also listed because of their excellent reputations in the Forex trading industry.

These are the best FSCA-regulated Forex brokers for 2024.

1

FP Markets

FSCA-Regulated with the Best Trading Platforms and Tools

Visit
2

AvaTrade

ZAR Accounts with No Commission

Visit
3

HFM

Best FSCA-Regulated Broker with ZAR Accounts

Visit
4

Khwezi Trade

Best Local FSCA Regulated Broker

Visit
5

markets.com

Best Trading Platform with FSCA Regulation

Visit
6

IG

Best FSCA Regulated MT4 Broker

Visit
7

Admirals

R200 Minimum Deposit, 42 Crypto Pairs

Visit
8

FxPro

Best FSCA Regulated No Dealing Desk (NDD) Broker

Visit
9

Exness

Best FSCA-Regulated Trading Conditions

Visit
10

Tickmill

Raw Spreads with the Lowest Commissions

Visit

Overview

Scroll for more detailsPreviousNext
Broker
Broker Score
Official Site
FSCA (SA) Regulated
FSP #
Min. Deposit
Max. Leverage (Forex)
Beginner Friendly
EUR/USD - Standard Spread
Cost of Trading
EUR/USD - Raw Spread
Total CFDs
Currency Pairs
Platforms
Compare
FP Markets
4.40 /5
Read Review
Visit Broker >
79% of retail CFD accounts lose money
50926AUD 100500:1Excellent0.10 pipsUSD 70.10 pips1016270MT4, MT5, cTrader, IRESS
AvaTrade
4.59 /5
Read Review
Visit Broker >
76% of retail CFD accounts lose money
45984ZAR 1900400:1Excellent0.90 pipsUSD 90.90 pips87255MT4, MT5, Avatrade Social, AvaOptions
HFM (HotForex)
4.53 /5
Read Review
Visit Broker >
72.90% of retail CFD accounts lose money
46632ZAR 02000:1Excellent1.00 pipsUSD 100.10 pips123053MT4, MT5, HFM Trading App
Khwezi Trade
3.72 /5
Read Review
Visit Broker >
of retail CFD accounts lose money
44816ZAR 500400:1Standard1.00 pipsUSD 100.60 pips5739MT5
Markets.com
4.68 /5
Read Review
Visit Broker >
70.3% of retail CFD accounts lose money
46860ZAR 1500300:1Excellent0.70 pipsUSD 70.60 pips100956MT4, MT5, markets.com
IG
4.69 /5
Read Review
Visit Broker >
69% of retail CFD accounts lose money
41393USD 0200:1Excellent0.60 pipsUSD 60.85 pips1929580MT4, L2 Dealer, ProRealTime
Admirals
4.28 /5
Read Review
Visit Broker >
76% of retail CFD accounts lose money
ZAR 500500:1Excellent0.80 pipsUSD 80.10 pips399682MT4, MT5
FxPro
4.39 /5
Read Review
Visit Broker >
71.58% of retail CFD accounts lose money
45052USD 100200:1Excellent1.40 pipsUSD 140.40 pips224170MT4, MT5, cTrader, FxProEdge
Exness
4.32 /5
Read Review
Visit Broker >
71.67% of retail CFD accounts lose money
51024USD 30:1Standard0.70 pipsUSD 70 pips221100MT4, MT5, Exness Terminal
Tickmill
4.58 /5
Read Review
Visit Broker >
71% of retail CFD accounts lose money
49464USD 100500:1Excellent0.00 pipsUSD 40.10 pips20962MT4, MT5

How to choose the best FSCA Regulated Forex Brokers

The FSCA, formerly the FSB, is the government agency responsible for regulating South African brokers. While international brokers can attain FSCA licenses, it is more common for local brokers to have this licensing. If you are choosing between FSCA regulated broker, here is what to consider:

Regulation: We list the FSCA license number for each SA regulated broker to make it easy to verify each broker’s regulatory status. Traders can use this number to confirm the licensing and verify that the license number belongs to the broker in question and is not being loaned by another regulated company. While the FSCA is a respected organization in South Africa, there is additional security in a broker being regulated by international tier 1 regulators like the FCA (United Kingdom) and ASIC (Australia).

ZAR accounts: South African and International brokers can offer ZAR accounts. In this case, when a client deposits with the broker, the funds are kept in Rands and not converted to USD, EUR, or GBP. ZAR accounts have both advantages and disadvantages, but should you wish to keep your funds, you will need a broker with ZAR base currency support.

Segregated accounts: FSCA regulated brokers must keep all client funds in segregated accounts, which keeps client money and company operation money separate and makes client funds more protected from abuse. However, just because the broker must have segregated accounts does not mean they are using South African banks, so if you would rather your money be kept in South Africa, it is wise to register a ZAR trading account with a local broker. 

Trading costs: As with comparing brokers of any regulation, it is important to look at what it would cost to trade with any specific broker. When we compare trading costs, we consider what trading one lot of EUR/USD on the entry-level account would cost a trader. 


Others Also Visit

Scroll for more detailsPreviousNext
Visit
FP Markets
4.40 /5
Read Review
Visit
AvaTrade
4.59 /5
Read Review
Visit
HFM (HotForex)
4.53 /5
Read Review
Visit
Pepperstone
4.61 /5
Read Review
Visit
Exness
4.32 /5
Read Review
Visit

FP Markets – FSCA-Regulated with the Best Trading Platforms and Tools

Broker Score
4.404.40 / 5
🏦  Min. DepositAUD 100
🛡️  Regulated By
💵  Trading Cost 
USD 7
⚖️  Max. Leverage500:1
💹  Copy Trading
🖥️  Platforms
💱  Instruments 

FP Markets has been FSCA-regulated (FSP: 50926) since January 2023. In addition to MT4, MT5, and cTrader FP Markets also started offering the TradingView platform in 2024. Trading tools include Autochartist, VPS services, and a Trader’s Toolbox, which transforms MT4 and MT5 into state-of-the-art Trading terminals.

FP Markets offers fast execution on two accounts, both with a minimum deposit of 100 AUD (or equivalent), making them accessible to both beginners and more experienced traders. Its commission-free Standard Account has a spread of 1 pip, which is average for the industry, while its Raw Account offers low-cost trading with a spread of 0 pips in exchange for a round turn commission of 6 USD.

Pros
  • Trusted since 2005 with top-tier regulation
  • 100 USD minimum deposit amount
  • Supports MT4 MT5 cTrader and TradingView
  • Spreads start at 1.0 pip and narrow to 0 pips with higher trading volumes
  • Welcoming South African traders with specific regulatory compliance
Cons
  • Notably higher withdrawal fees than competitors
  • Stock CFDs are Limited on MT4/MT5 and primarily available through IRESS
  • High leverage up to 500:1
  • posing risks for inexperienced traders
AlertAccepts South African Clients. Average spread EUR/USD 0.10 pips on trading account with lowest minimum deposit. Max leverage 500:1. Islamic account available. MT4, MT5, cTrader & IRESS platforms supported. FP Markets is regulated by the FSCA, CySEC, and ASIC.

AvaTrade – ZAR Accounts with No Commission

Broker Score
4.594.59 / 5
🏦  Min. DepositZAR 1900
🛡️  Regulated By
💵  Trading Cost 
USD 9
⚖️  Max. Leverage400:1
💹  Copy Trading
🖥️  Platforms
💱  Instruments 

Founded in 2006 and FSCA-regulated since 2015, AvaTrade (FSP: 45984) offers an excellent trading environment for both beginner and experienced traders. AvaTrade features low spreads on a single account, award-winning customer service, an excellent mobile trading platform, AvaTradeGo and great trading tools like AvaProtect, allowing traders to purchase loss protection for a time directly from the AvaTradeGo app. ZAR accounts are also available, and AvaTrade offers a wide range of instruments. The only possible downside is that the minimum deposit here is 100 USD (1500 ZAR), which is higher than many other brokers operating in South Africa.

Maximum leverage at AvaTrade is 400:1, and spreads are some of the tightest we have seen for an account with only a 1900 ZAR minimum deposit and no commission – as low as 0.9 pips on the EUR/USD. AvaTrade has no fees for either deposits or withdrawals and a commitment to processing your funding request as fast as possible. The customer service team is available 24/5 via telephone, live chat, and email.

Pros
  • Top-tier regulation and security with licenses from ASIC and CBI among others
  • Accessible trading with a low minimum deposit of 100 USD
  • Award-winning mobile trading with the AvaTradeGO app with social trading features
  • Wide range of assets including unique instruments like vanilla options
  • Educational material to support trader development and strategy enhancement
Cons
  • Market analysis could be more extensive
  • Poor regulatory oversight outside of the UK and EU
  • Avatrade is a Market Maker and operate a dealing desk which might not align with all trading preferences
AlertAccepts South African Clients. Average spread EUR/USD 0.90 pips on trading account with lowest minimum deposit. Max leverage 400:1. Islamic account available. MT4 & MT5 platforms supported. AvaTrade Group regulated by ASIC, FSCA, B.V.I FSC & FSA.

HFM (HotForex) – Best FSCA-Regulated Broker with ZAR Accounts

Broker Score
4.534.53 / 5
🏦  Min. DepositZAR 0
🛡️  Regulated By
💵  Trading Cost 
USD 10
⚖️  Max. Leverage2000:1
💹  Copy Trading
🖥️  Platforms
💱  Instruments 

HFM (previously known as HotForex) is a well-known international broker, with a strong presence in South Africa. HFM has a local customer support team, and unlike many other international brokers, it offers ZAR trading accounts. It also offers fast and free deposits and withdrawals in South African Rands from a range of local banks, including FNB, ABSA, Nedbank, and Standard Bank. Regulated by the FSCA (FSP: 46632), CySEC and the FSA, HFM has built a reputation for tight spreads with STP execution, low-cost Micro Accounts, detailed market analysis, and 24/5 customer support. With accounts that suit both beginners and professionals and detailed market analysis, HFM is a good choice for new and experienced traders.

HFM devotes an entire section of its website to market analysis and trading tools; these include daily market news, trade analysis, and outlooks. Trading calculators and economic calendars are also available for reference outside of a trading platform.

Pros
  • Low minimum deposit
  • Tight spreads
  • Well regulated
  • Good range of accounts
Cons
  • Limited base currencies
AlertAccepts South African Clients. Average spread EUR/USD 1.00 pips on trading account with lowest minimum deposit. Max leverage 2000:1. Islamic account available. MT4 & MT5 platforms supported. HF Markets Group regulated by the FSCA, FCA, FSC, CySEC and the DFSA.

KhweziTrade – Best Local FSCA Regulated Broker

Broker Score
3.723.72 / 5
🏦  Min. DepositZAR 500
🛡️  Regulated By
💵  Trading Cost 
USD 10
⚖️  Max. Leverage400:1
💹  Copy Trading
🖥️  Platforms
💱  Instruments 

Winner of the Award for Best Forex Broker in Africa, Khwezi Trade (FSP: 44816) is a South African FSCA regulated broker headquartered in Cape Town. ZAR Accounts, MT4 support and STP execution are combined with tight spreads and a local focus. Not just local regulation, but local offices, local staff, and local banks. With KhweziTrade, all your funds are kept in segregated accounts at Standard Bank.

Khwezi Trade offers four account types depending on minimum deposit, but all accounts come with a personal account manager. Support is offered via live chat, email, and phone from 7 am to 6 pm, but clients can call after-hours for emergency assistance. Help is available in English, Afrikaans, Zulu, Sotho, and Xhosa. Also, there are no deposit or withdrawal fees, and withdrawals are processed daily. There are also no inactivity fees applied to accounts.

Pros
  • ZAR Accounts
  • Fast and free withdrawals
  • Great customer support
Cons
  • Local regulation only
  • No swap-free account option
AlertAccepts South African Clients. Average spread EUR/USD 1.00 pips on trading account with lowest minimum deposit. Max leverage 400:1. Only MT5 platform supported. Khewzi Trade is regulated by the FSCA - FSP:44816

Markets.com – Best Trading Platform with FSCA Regulation

Broker Score
4.684.68 / 5
🏦  Min. DepositZAR 1500
🛡️  Regulated By
💵  Trading Cost 
USD 7
⚖️  Max. Leverage300:1
💹  Copy Trading
🖥️  Platforms
💱  Instruments 

Markets.com (FSP: 43906) is a market maker broker regulated by the FSCA since 2012. Traders can choose from three trading platforms, including MT4, MT5, and markets.com’s own proprietary platform, considered by many to be one of the best in-house trading platforms in the industry. 

Markets.com offers one live account, with a minimum deposit requirement of 1500 Rand and spreads starting from 0.6 pips on the EUR/USD. The intuitive platform includes fundamental, technical, and sentiment analysis tools and advanced charting with several indicators, like Forecasting, Long/Short position tracking, Elliott Wave and Gann.

Traders will also find a wide range of financial instruments available, including shares, ETFs, Indices, commodities, Forex, cryptocurrencies, and bonds.

Pros
  • Regulation by top-tier authorities
  • Hassle-free withdrawal process without any fees
  • Its proprietary trading platform is praised for its user-friendly interface catering to both beginners and experienced traders
  • Competitive spreads starting from 0.6 pips
Cons
  • The maximum leverage of 300:1 could pose a risk for uninformed traders warranting cautious utilization
AlertAccepts South African Clients. Average spread EUR/USD 0.70 pips on trading account with lowest minimum deposit. Max leverage 300:1. Islamic account available. MT4, MT5 & Markets.com platforms supported. Markets.com is regulated by the FCA, CySEC, ASIC, and the FSCA.

IG – Best FSCA Regulated MT4 Broker

Broker Score
4.694.69 / 5
🏦  Min. DepositUSD 0
🛡️  Regulated By
💵  Trading Cost 
USD 6
⚖️  Max. Leverage200:1
💹  Copy Trading
🖥️  Platforms
💱  Instruments 

IG, the world’s largest broker by revenue, has been regulated by the FSCA since 2010. IG offers clients automated trading, micro lots, customisable charts, and reliability. IG’s version of MT4 takes MT4 to another level with its package of free add-ons and indicators. Highlights include a Trade Terminal, Stealth Orders, a Correlation Matrix as well as a dozen indicators. All IG clients get access to Autochartist for free. These features are available with tight spreads, with the EUR/USD averaging 0.86 pips but sometimes as low as 0.6 pips, and commission-free trading.

Millions of traders have started their trading careers at IG, and its easy to see why from the excellent material available at the IG Academy and the constantly updated News and Trade Ideas page. IG also offers a free Trade Analytics tool that evaluates trading performance over time and offers diagnosis and suggestions to improve your trading.

Pros
  • Well regulated
  • Tight spreads
  • Great platform choice
  • Excellent education
  • Excellent market analysis
Cons
  • High minimum deposit
AlertAccepts South African Clients. Average spread EUR/USD 0.85 pips on trading account with lowest minimum deposit. Max leverage 200:1. Islamic account available. MT4, ProRealTime and L2 Dealer platforms supported. IG Markets Group is regulated by FCA, ASIC, and the FSCA.

Admirals – R200 Minimum Deposit, 42 Crypto Pairs

Broker Score
4.284.28 / 5
🏦  Min. DepositZAR 500
🛡️  Regulated By
💵  Trading Cost 
USD 8
⚖️  Max. Leverage500:1
💹  Copy Trading
🖥️  Platforms
💱  Instruments 

Regulated by the FSCA since 2019 and with a South African HQ in Cape Town, Admirals offers four ZAR trading accounts on the MT4 and MT5 platforms. Minimum deposits are 200 ZAR/25 EUR on all four accounts, and trading costs are low, starting at 0.8 pips on the EUR/USD. Assets available to trade include 80 currency pairs, 42 crypto pairs and over 3000 stock CFDs. All trading accounts receive negative balance protection; two of the four accounts are also available as Islamic accounts.

Admirals also offers a 100% welcome bonus for new South African clients (up to $5000) and a no-deposit bonus of $100, which allows new clients to trade the live markets risk-free. Admirals has also invested heavily in helping new traders find their feet, offering an extensive library of educational articles, tutorials, and webinars.

Pros
  • Well regulated
  • Excellent education
  • Wide range of assets
Cons
  • Expensive withdrawals
AlertAccepts South African Clients. Average spread EUR/USD 0.80 pips with 0.0 USD commission round turn on the trading account with lowest minimum deposit. Max leverage 500:1. Islamic account available. MT4 & MT5 platforms supported. Admirals is regulated by the FSCA, FCA, ASIC, CySEC, and the JSC.

FxPro – Best FSCA Regulated No Dealing Desk (NDD) Broker

Broker Score
4.394.39 / 5
🏦  Min. DepositUSD 100
🛡️  Regulated By
💵  Trading Cost 
USD 14
⚖️  Max. Leverage200:1
💹  Copy Trading
🖥️  Platforms
💱  Instruments 

FSCA-regulated since 2015, FxPro (FSP: 45052) offers an NDD execution model on MT4, MT5, cTrader and a browser-based platform. A 100 USD opening deposit and notable customer service are combined with competitive spreads – often as low as 0.6 pips. FxPro’s NDD execution model has won awards over the years for its speed and reliability. Most trades are executed in less than 10 milliseconds and only 9% of orders receive negative slippage. These execution statistics are ideal for scalpers and traders who like to take advantage of volatile markets.

FxPro has three accounts, one for each of the major platforms: MT4, MT5 and cTrader. Both the MT4 and MT5 accounts offer commission-free trading while the cTrader account has a 4.50 USD commission per trade but raw spreads – down to 0.3 pips on the EUR/USD. In addition, FxPro has its own FxPro (EDGE) web platform for those that want to keep this simpler.

FxPro offers ZAR Accounts and ZAR FxPro Wallets, so South African traders can avoid paying any conversion fees. All deposits and withdrawals from the FxPro Wallet are free of charge via all methods.

Pros
  • Well regulated
  • Great platform choice
  • Tight spreads
Cons
  • Limited education
AlertAccepts South African Clients. Average spread EUR/USD 1.40 pips on trading account with lowest minimum deposit. Max leverage 200:1. Islamic account available. MT4, MT5, cTrader and FxPro proprietary trading platform supported. FxPro Group is regulated by FCA, CySEC, FSCA, and the SCB.

Exness – Best FSCA-Regulated Trading Conditions

Broker Score
4.324.32 / 5
🏦  Min. DepositUSD 3
🛡️  Regulated By
💵  Trading Cost 
USD 7
⚖️  Max. LeverageUnlimited:1
💹  Copy Trading
🖥️  Platforms
💱  Instruments 

Exness (FSP: 51024) is an FSCA and internationally regulated CFD broker offering trading in Forex, cryptocurrencies and metals. Trading conditions at Exness are some of the best in the business. All trades are executed on the market with no intervention, with one exception. With a low-cost cent account for new traders, unlimited leverage on some of the professional accounts, and a wide range of assets to trade, Exness has made sure that its product offering will appeal to all types of trader.

MT4 and MT5 are available across a wide range of accounts, and ZAR accounts are available for South African traders. With 1 USD minimum deposit, micro-lots unlocked and spreads as low as 0.3 pips, the Exness Standard Cent Account is a live account for new Forex traders who want to learn while depositing the absolute minimum. However, there are limitations on this account as traders will only be able to trade currency and metals with this account, and MT5 is not supported.

Pros
  • Highly competitive spreads and low trading costs (7 USD per lot).
  • Extensive selection of trading instruments and over 100 Forex pairs
  • User-friendly trading platforms: MT4 MT5 and Exness Terminal.
  • Minimum deposit requirement of only 3 USD
  • Offers copy trading options
Cons
  • Extreme leverage
  • Limited range of share CFDs
AlertAccepts South African Clients. Average spread EUR/USD 0.70 pips on trading account with lowest minimum deposit. Max leverage Unlimited:1. Islamic account available. MT4, MT5, Exness web trader platforms supported. Exness is regulated by CySEC, FCA, and the FSC.

Tickmill – Raw Spreads with the Lowest Commissions

Broker Score
4.584.58 / 5
🏦  Min. DepositUSD 100
🛡️  Regulated By
💵  Trading Cost 
USD 4
⚖️  Max. Leverage500:1
💹  Copy Trading
🖥️  Platforms
💱  Instruments 

Tickmill is an FSCA-regulated broker (FSP 49464) with MT4 and MT5 support, and its Pro Account is one of the lowest-cost trading accounts in South Africa. The Pro Account requires a minimum deposit of 100 USD (or equivalent) and is also available as a ZAR trading account, removing any concerns about currency conversion fees. Raw spreads start at 0 pips on the EUR/USD and commissions are only 4 USD per lot, much lower than most other brokers with raw spread accounts. However, although Tickmill is regulated by the South African FSCA, South African traders will be onboarded through Tickmill’s Seychelles-based entity, which offers less protection.

 A standard account is also available, with no commission and spreads starting at 1.6 pips on the EUR/USD. Education and market analysis are both excellent and experienced traders will appreciate the wide range of 60+ currency pairs.

Pros
  • Tight spreads
  • Well regulated
  • Fast and free withdrawals
Cons
  • Limited base currencies
AlertAccepts South African Clients. Average spread EUR/USD 0.00 pips with 4 USD commission round turn on the trading account with lowest minimum deposit. Max leverage 500:1. Islamic account available. MT4 platform support. Tickmill is regulated by CySEC, FCA, FSCA, and the FSA-Seychelles.

What is the FSCA?

FSCA Building

The Financial Sector Conduct Authority or FSCA is the local regulator of all non-banking related activities and has oversight over all regulated brokers in South Africa. 

Previously known as the Financial Services Board (FSB), the FSCA was founded in 1991 following the recommendations of Van der Horst committee. The committee recommended the creation of an independent body to supervise and regulate the non-banking financial services sector in South Africa.

In 2018, the FSB changed their name to the FSCA or the Financial Sector Conduct Authority. It is responsible for the market conduct regulation and supervision of financial service providers like Forex brokers, investment funds, and investment managers.

The Financial Sector Conduct Authority has the following four goals:

  • Protect customers of financial services.
  • Improve efficiency and integrity of financial markets.
  • Promote financial stability.
  • Increase financial inclusion.

To achieve these goals, it also creates regulations in the interest of the public and publishes warnings of illegal schemes.

Internationally, the Financial Sector Conduct Authority is a recognised member of the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) and takes a leading role in regulation in the SADC block.

What does the FSCA do?

The FSCA regulates financial activity in South Africa. It also supervises the Forex currency market to protect Forex traders from illegal actors and rogue brokers. Regulation is the primary way to establish trust in a Forex broker. If you want local protection when trading Forex in South Africa, you want your broker to be regulated locally by the FSCA. 

The FSCA issues public warnings about fraudulent brokers in the regularly-updated Media Releases section of their website.  These warnings include guidance on individuals or companies misrepresenting themselves, or organisations falsely representing their services.

This register of FSPs will also show if an entity has submitted an application to the FSCA, if they are in good standing, or if it has been stripped of regulation in the past.

What are the advantages of trading with an FSCA-regulated broker?

FSCA-regulated brokers must keep client funds segregated from operational funds and must submit regular audits to the FSCA to ensure that client funds are not being misused. FSCA-regulated brokers must also have a physical office in South Africa, this ensures that any disputes are governed by South African laws.

If your FSCA-regulated broker does go bankrupt, you will also be able to walk into any branch of your broker’s local bank and remove all your funds from your segregated account. Gaining access to your funds will not be so easy in the event of a foreign broker’s bankruptcy. 

Having a physical office in South Africa allows brokers to partner with local banks, which are governed by South African laws. Local bank accounts also mean that bank transfers between South African clients and brokers are faster and cheaper.

South Africans can trade with brokers which are not regulated by the FSCA, but these organisations are not governed by South African institutions, and funds are not handled by local banks.

Over-the-counter Derivative Provider (ODP) licence

Since 2019, the FSCA has required all Forex brokers in South Africa to apply for an Over-the-counter Derivative Provider (ODP) licence. This has created a new set of requirements for South African Forex brokers to follow:

Due Diligence: Brokers now need to conduct due diligence on new traders before they can be allowed to trade. Clients will need to prove their capital adequacy before starting to trade. New traders must also show that they understand the risks involved.

Reporting: Every broker that has been authorised must also report the details of every transaction to an authorised trade repository. These transaction details include the names of the parties, the valuation of the transaction, the underlying asset of the trade, details of the instrument traded, and the margin that has been maintained.

FSCA JP Markets Liquidation

Forex brokers who do not hold an ODP licence are in contravention of the regulations and can be liquidated at the request of the FSCA, as happened to JP Markets in September 2020 (see image above).

These new requirements have put the FSCA firmly in charge of the Forex industry in South Africa and will provide a much safer and more secure environment for traders.

How Do I Find Out If A Forex Broker Is FSCA Regulated?

All Forex brokers that are regulated by the FSCA are required to publish their Financial Service Provider (FSP) number on their website. KhweziTrade is a popular South African Forex broker, and we can see from the bottom of their website that their FSP number is 44816:

KhweziTrade FSP

Once you have the FSP number of a broker you can go use the FSCA’s search page to enter the FSP and verify that the broker is indeed licenced. You can see below that we have entered KhweziTrade’s FSP as listed on their website.

Once we submit the FSP number via the FSCA’s search page, we can see that there is a company called Khwezi Financial Services (Pty) Ltd with that FSP number.

A broker having a legal name different to their trading name is quite common, so it is sometimes difficult to search for a broker by trading name alone using this service. When you can, use the FSP number, or legal name if you know it.

If we click on the Details button, we then have a full overview of Khwezi Financial Services regulatory status:

Khwezi Financial Services Details

The important part of this section for our purposes is the Products Approved section. Let us have a look at it in closer detail:

Khwezi Financial Services Products

Here we can see that Khwezi Financial Services, as a large financial services company, holds a wide range of licences. We have highlighted the two product licences that matter for our purposes. We can see that they hold a Category I and a Category II licence for Derivative instruments.

All Forex trading is derivative trading, as traders never actually hold any currency – they are just speculating on a price derived from a real-world asset (such as the USD or the ZAR). So Khwezi Financial Services’ two Derivative instruments licences allow them to provide derivatives (such as Forex derivatives) to traders.

If you are ever unsure whether a broker is FSCA regulated, the FSCA search page is the best place to find out. Be aware that some bad brokers will use names similar to licenced financial services companies so as to confuse people.

Which Brokers Are Regulated in South Africa?

Here is the full list of FSCA-regulated Forex brokers we have reviewed, ordered by their overall score.

Scroll for more detailsPreviousNext
Broker
Broker Score
FSP #
Regulators
Min. Deposit
Beginner Course
Negative Balance Protection
Cost of Trading
Max. Leverage
Office Locations
Compare
IG
4.69 /5
Read Review
41393ASIC Regulated Forex BrokersBundesanstalt für FinanzdienstleistungsaufsichtDubai Financial Services AuthorityCommodity Futures Trading AssociationUSD 0 USD 6200:1South Africa, United Kingdom
Markets.com
4.68 /5
Read Review
46860FCA Regulated BrokersASIC Regulated Forex BrokersCySEC Regulated BrokersFSCA Regulated Forex BrokersZAR 1500 USD 7300:1Australia, United Kingdom, Cyprus, South Africa
AvaTrade
4.59 /5
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FSCA Strategy 2018-2022

Central to the mission of the FSCA are four core statements, which together, form the reason why residents want to trade with an FSCA regulated Forex broker.

The FSCA improves the efficiency and integrity of the South African financial markets. By monitoring the whole financial market and not just any particular entity, it ensures the safety of the entire market, and in doing so, can protect all market participants including retail Forex traders.

In addition, the FSCA ensures that regulated brokers treat all clients fairly. A client of a regulated brokerage who feels they have been cheated has a legally defined process to resolve their issue.  All regulated brokers must have this process available to potential clients.

FSCA-regulated brokers must present written material in a way that does not confuse or mislead the reader. They are required to provide financial education and promote the financial literacy of potential clients. As financial products can be complicated, it is the obligation of all regulated members to explain all products and their associated risks.

Finally, the FSCA assist in maintaining financial stability in South Africa by supervising the registered entities.

A client trading with an FSCA regulated broker should expect to be treated fairly, expect to be educated on financial products whenever needed, and can rest assured that the government is monitoring their broker’s activities to ensure they are safe and secure.

History of the FSCA

Previously known as the Financial Services Board (FSB), the FSCA opened in 1991 following the recommendations of Van der Horst led committee. The committee had recommended the creation of an independent body to oversee or supervise and regulate the non-banking financial services sector in South Africa.

After the Van der Horst committee, various acts have increased and expanded the mandate of the Financial Services Board. In 2001, the Financial Intelligence Centre Act and the subsequent amendments that followed later increased the FSB mandate to include issues of combating money laundering.

Later in 2004, the Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services, also known as FAIS, expanded the role of FSB to include, among other things, the conduct of market in the banking sector.

As of April 1st, 2018, the FSB changed their name to the FSCA or the Financial Sector Conduct Authority which is responsible for market conduct regulation and supervision.

The FSCA Structure

A board oversees the Financial Sector Conduct Authority which executes its mandate through divisions. The FSCA has the sole mandate to select its own Commissioner, making the organisation less of a target of the financial politics and pressures. Apart from overseeing the day-to-day running of the institution, the Commissioner acts as the Registrar of the Non-banking Financial Institutions in South Africa.

The authority of the Commission is distributed to Deputy Commissioners appointed by the Minister of Finance, and are supported by the Chief Risk Officer, General Counsel, Media Liaison Officer.

Key Financial Sector Conduct Authority Responsibilities

As part of its mission of ensuring that the investment environment in South Africa is sound and conducive, the Financial Sector Conduct Authority has built a strong reputation for its regulatory framework in the following sectors:

  • Capital Markets
  • Insurers
  • Financial Services Providers
  • Collective Financial Schemes
  • Nominee Companies
  • Friendly Societies
  • Retirement Funds

The FSCA ensures the cooperation of regulated entities and has the power to impose compensation orders, unlimited penalties and cost orders for those who do not comply.  These orders are adhered to as though they are a judgment from South Africa’s Supreme Court, and are a matter of public record.

A customer complaints service is effective in fielding complaints, plus a separate self-policing appeals board which any aggrieved entity can approach should they feel like they might have been aggrieved by either the regulator or any of its executive officers.

Summary

The FSCA is credited for bringing stability and transparency to South Africa’s investment industries.  Forex traders who want to have protection can find brokers that are locally regulated, and who comply with South African law.  In some cases, South African clients can keep their funds locally, further increasing trust with the brokerages.

FAQs

Do South Africans have to trade with FSCA-regulated brokers?

No, South Africans can legally trade with any broker in the world. We do recommend that you always trade with a well-regulated broker, regardless of the jurisdiction in which they operate.

Should I trade with an FSCA Regulated Broker?

While it is not essential for South Africans to trade with an FSCA-regulated broker, local regulation ensures that in the case of broker bankruptcy, your funds will be protected by local laws. FSCA regulation also ensures the segregation of client and broker funds. Many FSCA-regulated brokers also keep their accounts in local banks, resulting in faster deposits and withdrawals.

But there are many well-regulated international brokers who can offer better trading conditions, platform options and market analysis than most FSCA-regulated brokers.

If local protection is important to you, then you should trade with an FSCA-regulated broker.

Which is the best FSCA-regulated Forex broker?

HFM is the best FSCA-regulated Forex broker. HFM has a local customer support team and offers ZAR trading accounts. Minimum deposits start at 70 Rand, and HFM also offers fast and free deposits and withdrawals from a range of local banks. 

How do I know if a Forex broker is regulated by the FSCA?

Every broker regulated by the FSCA is required to post their FSP licence number on their website. If you know the broker’s FSP number or legal name, you can also use the FSCA’s search facility to check on their regulatory status.

Do FSCA-regulated brokers offer ZAR trading accounts?

Not necessarily. While many FSCA-regulated brokers offer ZAR trading accounts, there are some who do not. If you are looking for a ZAR trading account, check out our page on the best ZAR trading accounts in South Africa.

Forex Risk Disclaimer

Trading Forex and CFDs is not suitable for all investors as it carries a high degree of risk to your capital: 75-90% of retail investors lose money trading these products. Forex and CFD transactions involve high risk due to the following factors: Leverage, market volatility, slippage arising from a lack of liquidity, inadequate trading knowledge or experience, and a lack of regulatory protection. Traders should not deposit any money that is not considered disposable income. Regardless of how much research you have done or how confident you are in your trade, there is always a substantial risk of loss. (Learn more about these risks from the UK’s regulator, the FCA, or the Australian regulator, ASIC).

Our Rating & Review Methodology

Our Broker Awards and Forex Rankings Report and Directory of CFD Brokers to Avoid are the result of extensive research on over 180 Forex brokers. These resources help traders find the best Forex brokers – and steer them away from the worst ones. These resources have been compiled using over 200 data points on each broker and over 3000 hours of research. Our team conducts all research independently: Testing brokers, gathering information from broker representatives and sifting through legal documents. Learn more about how we rank brokers

Editorial Team

 

Chris Cammack
Head of Content

Chris joined the company in 2019 after ten years experience in research, editorial and design for political and financial publications. His background has given him a deep knowledge of international financial markets and the geopolitics that affects them. Chris has a keen eye for editing and a voracious appetite for financial and political current affairs. He ensures that our content across all sites meets the standards of quality and transparency that our readers expect.

 

Alison Heyerdahl
Senior Financial Writer

Alison joined the team as a writer in 2021. She has a medical degree with a focus on physiotherapy and a bachelor’s in psychology. However, her interest in forex trading and her love for writing led her to switch careers, and she now has over eight years experience in research and content development. She has tested and reviewed 100+ brokers and has a great understanding of the Forex trading world.

 

Ida Hermansen
Financial Writer

Ida joined our team as a financial writer in 2023. She has a degree in Digital Marketing and a background in content writing and SEO. In addition to her marketing and writing skills, Ida also has an interest in cryptocurrencies and blockchain networks. Her interest in crypto trading led to a wider fascination with Forex technical analysis and price movement. She continues to develop her skills and knowledge in Forex trading and keeps a close eye on which Forex brokers offer the best trading environments for new traders.

 

Vanessa Marcos
Financial Writer

Vanessa joined the team in 2023. Born and raised in southern Portugal, she has a BA in Journalism and a Master’s in Literary Theory, both from Lisbon University. Since 2011, she has worked in social media, copywriting, content management, ghost-writing, and SEO. Vanessa loves to write, and although she is a generalist in digital marketing, she always draws on her creativity in her work. She is constantly researching new subjects and finds the analytical depth of Forex trading fascinating.

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