South Africa's principal CSD
Who we are
Strate is South Africa’s principal central securities depository and central collateral platform. Our purpose is to serve the financial market through the safekeeping of the legal, digital record of securities ownership. We provide associated settlement and asset services while facilitating the reuse of securities to benefit the economy.
Safeguarding ownership rights
At the heart of what we do, is the safeguarding of ownership rights for public and private market securities in South Africa. These records, held digitally, represent the legal record of ownership for all equities, bonds, money markets and participatory notes in collective investment schemes (ETFs) entrusted to Strate for safekeeping. As the market trusts us to independently and accurately hold the legal record of securities ownership, we are able to safeguard investors’ rights and contribute to upholding financial market stability.
Reliable operations and world-class asset services
Strate’s central securities depository – to which issuers, other market participants and all South African exchanges connect – maintains accurate records through a reliable clearing and settlement function. Our world-class asset servicing capabilities support issuers with both standard and complex corporate activities that unlock significant benefits for issuers and investors.
A cornerstone of the financial market ecosystem
We play an important role in creating efficiencies and mitigating systemic risk thereby contributing to the integrity of the financial market ecosystem. We are independent robust, sound and credible.
As a self-regulatory organisation, mandated by the Financial Markets Act, we contribute to financial market stability by establishing, maintaining and monitoring standards that uphold confidence in the market.
We help to support broader economic activity
Building on the trust we have earned in safeguarding the legal ownership rights for securities, Strate has developed a platform to support the re-use of securities as collateral to promote economic activity. Our central collateral platform efficiently and seamlessly connects collateral givers, collateral receivers and intermediaries, to assist them in optimising capital and improving liquidity.
Trusted to deliver innovative, digital solutions
Strate is a pioneer in digitisation in South Africa, initially through our dematerialisation initiative to replace paper securities ownership records with secure digital records. Digital innovation has allowed us to integrate and connect critical players in the financial market ecosystem. This leads to integrity and trust in our markets, which ultimately supports market growth and the growth of the South African economy.
Our Integration Services offers cost-effective solutions to make it easy for entities to create, exchange and monitor digital messages. We adhere to ISO messaging standards ensuring seamless and secure communication between market participants.
How we do things is as important as what we do
We are guided by a core set of principles that directs how we operate as a business and work together as a team to serve clients.
We strive for a culture that creates mindfulness of our purpose, performance, people, leadership, and aspirations. Within Strate, our corporate behaviours define that ‘how we do things is as important as what we do’.
- We are great listeners – we are attentive, we seek clarification, and we keep an open mind
- We empower each other – by acknowledging individual contribution and progress
- We build trust – by being able, believable, connected and dependable
- We do the right thing – by maintaining integrity
- We take accountability – by taking ownership of client interactions and collaborating with stakeholders to find workable solutions to challenges
- We commit to excellence – by taking pride in serving the financial markets
Long-term
business sustainability
We follow an integrated approach to create value for all our stakeholders over the short, medium and long term.
Our strategic focus encompasses:
- Operational excellence and resilience
- Strong client relationships
- Long-term business sustainability
- High quality engaged talent
- Digital adoption
Seamless, digital market integration
As a South African central securities depository, Strate is a licensed independent provider of post-trade services for the financial markets.
Our services offering consists of CSD Services, Collateral Services and Integration Services.
We use global and industry leading technology platforms to enable our key services and enable market participants and clients to integrate seamlessly and digitally onto our platforms.
For more information click on the info icons. 
We safeguard the legal, digital ownership rights for public and private market securities.
Connecting collateral givers and collateral receivers to enable the reuse of collateralised assets.
Efficiently connecting the financial market ecosystem through secured messages.
Strate’s state-of-the-art technology platforms are designed to facilitate two key capabilities:
1) Digital access to our core platforms irrespective of whether an issuer’s securities are traded in the public or private market and whether these trades happen on or off-market
2) Deliver the full functionality required by our core services
All Strate’s core business technology partners represent best-in-class offerings for the respective areas they service and help Strate achieve full digital adoption, enabling us to better serve the South African financial market.
1) Digital access to our core platforms irrespective of whether an issuer’s securities are traded in the public or private market and whether these trades happen on or off-market
2) Deliver the full functionality required by our core services
All Strate’s core business technology partners represent best-in-class offerings for the respective areas they service and help Strate achieve full digital adoption, enabling us to better serve the South African financial market.
Strate’s CSD Services is supported through the TCS Bancs platform, run in partnership with Tata Consulting Services.
Clearstream is the underlying technology platform for collateral services and brings efficient and accurate tracking and mobilisation of collateral and other assets through the market.
Strate’s e-Voting platform forms part of our digital issuer initiative and uses the world-class infrastructure and experience of leading technology provider Nasdaq.
Industry-wide digital market integration engagement
Strate engages with, or is represented on, a number of market associations and industry bodies with a view to exchanging information and experiences with others in a spirit of mutual cooperation.
Our aim is to promote best practice recommendations in services such as securities depository, clearance, settlement and risk management.
Useful links
The International Securities Services Association (ISSA)
The Americas’ Central Securities and Depository Association (ACSDA)
Thomas Murray
The Association for Savings and Investment South Africa (ASISA)
Payments Association of South Africa (PASA)
World Forum of CSDs
Our journey
Our executive team
Our board
Our shareholders
Strate’s executive committee is responsible for the strategic direction of the company to ensure it serves the South African financial market and adds sustainable value to stakeholders and shareholders.
André Nortjé
Chief Executive Officer
Sameera Dada
Chief Financial Officer
Gregory Naicker
Head of CSD Services
Farzana Khan
Head of Collateral Services
Rudi Steenkamp
Head of Technology and Data Management
Beverley Furman
Head of Operations and Change
Samantha Cooper
Head of Human Capital and Transformation
