The question is how much do you need to start forex trading in South Africa? Most people when they hear the word “forex trading,” they instantly think you need thousands of rands to start trading, but that is not true.
You can start forex trading with as little as R100. But let’s be realistic, you can’t turn R100 into R100 000, unless you are using prop firms.
My name is deguru a forex trader and an investor. Been trading since 2020 and started trading prop firms in 2024. I got funnded $30 000 so far, which is 3 $10K accounts.
Why Most Beginners Lose Money
Let’s be honest. Most people don’t lose because of small capital alone.
They lose because of:
Many beginners want fast results. Forex does not work like that. Forex rewards discipline, not desperation.
How Much Do You Need To Start Forex Trading
Let’s break it down clearly. You Can Start With R100, But Here’s the Truth
Many South African brokers allow you to open an account with R100 to R300. Some even allow less.
With R100, you can:
But with R100, you cannot:
So yes, R100 is possible, but it’s not ideal if you want real growth.
When people ask how much you need to start forex trading in South Africa, they often forget these costs:
1. Internet and Data
You need a stable internet. If your connection drops during a trade, you can lose money.
2. Device
You need at least:
Trading on a broken phone or slow laptop is stressful.
3. Education
You don’t need expensive courses, but you must learn.
Free resources:
How To Get Big Capital In Forex Trading
If you are trading a R1 000 account, even a “massive” 10% gain only nets you R100. It’s hard to stay motivated when your profits can barely buy a meal.
If you want to make “quit your job” money, you need access to serious capital. This is where Prop Firms (Proprietary Trading Firms) come in.
Here’s how it usually works:
Most prop firms offer 80%–90% profit split, meaning if you make 10% on the $10K account, that is a $800 (R12 985) after profit split, instead of making R100, now you make R12 985
Final Thought
Instead of trying to grow a R100 small account for years, use prop firms inted they give you a faster but disciplined path to scaling up.