New ETFs on EasyEquities 2026: Complete Guide

The Elephant in the Room: What Is an AMETF?

Before we look at the new funds EasyEquities has dropped, we need to talk about the biggest shift happening on the JSE right now. For 25 years, ETFs (Exchange Traded Funds) on the JSE were purely passive. They tracked an index (like the Top 40 or the S&P 500), they were managed by a computer, and the fees were dirt cheap.

But late last year and into early 2026, the JSE opened the floodgates for AMETFs (Actively Managed Exchange Traded Funds).

What does this mean for you? Actual human fund managers are now picking the stocks inside the ETF wrapper. You get the convenience of buying an ETF on EasyEquities, but with active stock-picking happening behind the scenes.

The catch? The fees. Active management is never free. While a passive Satrix S&P 500 ETF charges you around 0.25% a year, these new AMETFs typically carry higher Total Expense Ratios (TERs). You're paying for the manager's expertise. If they beat the market, it's worth it. If they don't, you're paying a premium for underperformance. Always check the fund fact sheet for the TER before hitting buy.

With that out of the way, let's look at the heavy hitters that landed on EasyEquities in the last few months.

1. The AI Hype Train: Ivy EasyETFs AI Innovation AMETF (IVYAI)

Listed on the JSE on 25 March 2026, this is the one everyone is talking about.

What it is: The IVYAI is an Actively Managed ETF targeting the broader AI ecosystem. Instead of just buying the big hyperscalers (Microsoft, Google, Nvidia), the active managers hunt for the underlying infrastructure companies and emerging tech — the picks-and-shovels plays behind the AI boom. FirstRand (via RMB Trustees) is the custodian, Jane Street handles liquidity as market maker, and Ivy is the portfolio manager.

Who it's for: Investors who want aggressive growth and exposure to the AI megatrend, but prefer to let a professional decide which companies are actually building the future versus those just slapping "AI" into their press releases to pump the stock.

The verdict: Treat this as a satellite holding, not your core. It's exciting, but highly concentrated and highly volatile. Don't make it 80% of your portfolio. 5–10% max while you're still figuring out if the thesis plays out.

2. Spreading the Risk: Satrix MSCI Japan (STXJPN) & Stoxx Europe 600 (STXEUR)

For the last decade, simply chucking all your offshore money into the US market (S&P 500 or Nasdaq 100) was the easiest way to make money. But the US market right now is incredibly concentrated — a handful of massive tech companies basically dictate the entire index's movement.

Satrix saw the problem and dropped two passive ETFs on 19 February 2026 to help South Africans diversify their developed market exposure.

Satrix MSCI Japan (STXJPN) — gives you a basket of the biggest Japanese companies, tracking the MSCI Japan Index. Japan's been quietly delivering strong returns after two decades of stagnation.

Satrix Stoxx Europe 600 (STXEUR) — gives you the top 600 companies across 17 developed European markets. TER is 0.25% including VAT — lekker cheap for regional exposure.

Who they're for: The investor whose offshore portfolio is currently 100% reliant on the American economy and wants to spread their geographical risk. Both are available in your EasyEquities TFSA account.

The verdict: Solid, boring, passive wealth-builders. Excellent additions for long-term global diversification. No drama, no hype, just steady tracking of developed markets outside the US.

3. The High-Risk China Play: Prescient China Balanced Feeder (PANDA)

China has been a notoriously difficult market for retail investors to navigate — government crackdowns, property sector crises, geopolitical tension. But some argue it's historically cheap right now.

What it is: Listed on the JSE in March 2026, the PANDA AMETF is South Africa's first actively managed China-focused ETF. Technically, it's a feeder fund — it invests into the Prescient China Balanced Fund, a UCITS-compliant fund domiciled in Ireland, which holds a diverse mix of Chinese equities, government and corporate bonds, and cash instruments. So you're not directly buying mainland Chinese stocks; you're getting exposure through a regulated Irish wrapper.

Who it's for: Contrarian investors who believe the Chinese market is fundamentally undervalued and poised for a rebound, but want a professional navigating the geopolitical risks on their behalf.

The verdict: Not for the faint of heart. The Chinese market can move hectically in both directions. Keep your exposure very small (under 5% of portfolio) if you decide to jump in.

4. The Defensive Income Plays

With inflation and interest rates creating a bumpy ride for pure stock portfolios over the last few years, the demand for passive income and capital preservation has skyrocketed. Two notable launches:

Satrix Income AMETF (STXINC) — listed 29 January 2026, and here's the interesting bit: this was Satrix's very first foray into the active space, not just their first 2026 listing. TER of 0.46% (inc. VAT) with a benchmark of SA Repo Rate + 0.75%. It focuses strictly on income-generating assets — bonds, floating rate notes, NCDs, and other interest-bearing securities — to smooth out your returns.

Cartesian EasyETFs Balanced AMETF — also listed January 2026 by Cartesian Capital (a 100% black female-owned boutique asset manager). It's a Regulation 28 compliant balanced fund mixing equities with fixed-income instruments, positioned as an "everyday portfolio companion" for retail investors who want a diversified core holding.

Who they're for: Older investors nearing retirement, or conservative investors who hate volatility and just want their money to generate a steady yield.

The verdict: Excellent tools for the defensive part of your portfolio — especially since you can wrap them in your Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) and protect all those dividend and interest payouts from SARS.

5. The Ones the Other Articles Missed

A few additional AMETFs dropped that deserve a mention:

• EasyETFs AI World AMETF (EASYAI) — another AI-themed AMETF from EasyETFs themselves, targeting global companies benefiting from AI adoption across industries.
• EasyETFs Global Equity AMETF (EASYGE) — a converted unit trust now wrapped as an ETF, focused on high-growth global companies.
• EasyETFs Balanced AMETF (EASYBF) — balanced fund wrapper, also converted from a unit trust.
• Amplify Strategic Income Satrix Feeder AMETF (AMPSTI) — listed February 2026, strategic income approach across asset classes.
• Prescient Balanced Feeder AMETF (PBLNCD) — balanced fund for diversified exposure.
• ETFSA Oyster Global Balanced Prescient AMETF — listed April 2026, the most recent addition.

If you're on EasyEquities and want to see everything new in one place, their blog maintains an updated list of instruments added in 2026.

The Straight Talk

EasyEquities adding these funds is a massive win for the South African retail investor. The barrier to entry for complex global and active strategies is now exactly R1. You can literally buy a fraction of a China AMETF with your lunch money.

But don't get distracted by the shiny new toys.

If you're just starting out, your strategy should not change. Your priority should still be maxing out your R46,000 annual TFSA limit in broad, low-cost, passive index trackers — think Satrix MSCI World, Satrix Top 40, or Satrix S&P 500. Boring, cheap, globally diversified.

Use these new thematic and active ETFs to complement your core portfolio, not replace it. 5–15% of your total investment in satellite plays is enough. The rest should be the boring passive stuff.

And if you do buy the new AMETFs, keep a very close eye on the management fees. After 3 years, check whether the active manager is actually beating the passive index benchmark after fees. If they're not, you're better off keeping it boring.

Not sure how fees eat into your returns over 20 years? Run the numbers through our Investment Fee Comparison Calculator. That 0.5% extra you're paying for "active management" might be costing you R500,000+ over a career. And before you commit, use our TFSA vs Taxable Calculator to see exactly why tax-free is priority number one.

Sharp.