Sanlam launches first Afrikaans online trading platform

On March 3, 2008, Afrikaans speakers will be able to trade online in their home language for the first time when Sanlam Private Investments launches the country’s first Afrikaans online share trading platform. And to make sure that the site is thoroughly Afrikaans a few brand new words had to be created during the translation process!

Sanlam iTrade is part of Sanlam Private Investments whose website was the first private client investment website available in English, Afrikaans, Xhosa and Zulu. Gerhard Lampen, head of Sanlam iTrade says, “People are far more comfortable trading in their own language. Our aim is to accommodate our Afrikaans-speaking clients, who comprise about 35 percent of our client base, as well as first time and other seasoned investors who prefer to trade in a more linguistically familiar environment.

“While we are pleased to be the first stockbroker to offer this benefit to clients, we are also proud of our small contribution to the Afrikaans language,” Lampen says, as the translation of the Sanlam iTrade platform required the creation of several new words.

More descriptive and accurate terms for financial and internet terminology were used where no or poor translations existed. A web browser (‘webblaaier’), for instance, is referred to on the platform as a ‘websnuffelaar’, while warrants are translated as ‘opsiekontrakte’ rather than ‘sekuriteitsregte’ and stop-loss orders are referred to as ‘keer-verlies opdragte’.

It took Sanlam iTrade several months to translate all the information on the platform, says Lampen. Although it will not be possible to translate absolutely everything on the website, most information and functions can now be navigated in Afrikaans. That includes registration and the extensive learning centre.

Investors can start to trade online with as little as R5 000, so almost anyone can take advantage of this convenient way to invest in shares and instruments listed on the JSE Securities Exchange. Sanlam iTrade has clients of all ages, ranging from young investors with aggressive risk profiles, to portfolio managers, to retirees. This group is growing significantly, as retirees generally have money, time and find online trading a lucrative and exciting hobby.

“One of the advantages of investing online is the immediacy of information and trades,” says Lampen. “Our clients have access to live data as well as a SENS feed, so they can use the most recent information to their benefit and timeously make appropriate investment decisions. During the time a telephone operator is able to help one client with their queries, thousands of online clients are able to resolve their own queries. Furthermore, they can set a stop loss order, which helps to protect an investment from downward market movements that automatically sets in when prices reach a certain level.”

He continues, “It is simple to open an account and trade online with Sanlam iTrade. All the facilities and features are demonstrated on the website, registration is done online and an account can be opened within 24 hours. Fees are competitively priced; investors have access to the online learning centre and are able to apply their skills and knowledge in a virtual trade environment if required.”

For convenience, Sanlam iTrade provides investors with the relevant tax certificates.

“We also hold information and education seminars for our clients and first time investors in our ‘Shares made Simple’ series,” says Lampen. “These focus on topics such as what is a share, shareholders’ rights, economic and technical analysis, share selection and portfolio construction.

“Trading online can be an exciting and rewarding hobby, and traders as well as long term investors can make a healthy return on their investments,” says Lampen. “You need to equip yourself with as much knowledge as possible to make informed decisions. We believe our platform provides the necessary in-depth research and tools required for all our clients to make successful investment choices, especially if they can access it in their own language.”

SPI was also the first South African private wealth company to present its site in Xhosa and Zulu. Visit the new Afrikaans trading site at http://www.sanlamitrade.co.za/