JSE titan David Shapiro honoured

Daily Investor • 30 May 2023

Sasfin’s David Shapiro has received the social impact award as part of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) Chairman’s Difference Makers awards.

Shapiro is highly regarded in South African investment circles and is one of the best-known commentators on the stock market.

With over 50 years of experience on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), he has earned the title of a titan of South African share investing.

Shapiro started his career as a newly qualified chartered accountant on 1 February 1972 as a runner on the JSE floor.

He has seen the JSE move from an open outcry system to transacting electronically and experienced the political transition from apartheid to the election of a fully democratic government.

Shapiro held numerous executive positions on the institutional side of the stockbroking business, including a 5-year stint on the JSE committee.

However, he stepped down to focus on the side of the business he liked the most – managing client portfolios.

“I didn’t dare to dream of the amazing career I’ve had, the incredible people I’ve worked with, and the dramatic ebbs and flows of the markets,” he said.

“Today, I look after large sums of private wealth on a discretionary basis. I greatly admire Warren Buffett and closely follow his unpretentious investment approach.”

“I am also a member of the Sasol Pension Fund investment committee. The pension fund manages assets of around R70 billion.”

He freely shares his knowledge, demystifies the complex new markets, and helps ordinary people feel comfortable making their own investment decisions.

“The channels through which I chose to educate investors were appearances on business radio, business television, podcasts, seminars, and articles,” he said.

He writes for Business Day, talks at seminars, does three podcasts a week with Strictly Business, two TV programmes with Business Day TV, and a radio show with SAFM.

Shapiro also has ad hoc appearances on eNCA, Radio 702, and numerous other media platforms.

Shapiro is best known for his achievements in the financial and investing markets, but he is also an accomplished sportsman and cartoonist.

He played first-team football for Wits and was voted “Accountancy Footballer of the Year” in 1970. He remains a keen runner to this day.

His caricatures appeared in numerous local newspapers and magazines, and in 1982 he held a one-man exhibition of his drawings at the Goodman Gallery.

“David Shapiro has consistently worked to improve lives and make a positive difference. He has addressed key societal issues through his philanthropic initiatives, including poverty, education and healthcare,” SAICA said.

“His innovative approaches created sustainable solutions, transforming the lives of countless individuals and communities.”

“His leadership and advocacy have raised awareness and inspired action, amplifying the impact of his endeavours. His passion for social change and his ability to mobilise others make him an exceptional award recipient.”