University life comes with its own financial pressures. According to the University World News, roughly 1.15 million students are heavily weighted towards disadvantaged or lower-income backgrounds. In 2025, the University of Johannesburg indicated that campus poverty is widespread, with many students facing food insecurity and the pressure to share scarce resources with unemployed or struggling family members. Over 1.24 million students were approved for NSFAS, according to AcademicJobs.com. This represents about 61% of all undergraduate students in the South African public higher education system. On 9 March 2026, University of Pretoria students protested over housing costs, demonstrating against private landlords demanding monthly top-up fees of up to R1500 and R750 for shared rooms. This all highlights that many university students are facing financial struggles.
I know you are probably wondering why this article is starting with numbers? What do NSFAS funding statistics and students from financially disadvantaged backgrounds have to do with forex? More than you might think. Behind these numbers, amid the looming unemployment rate, are students trying to make ends meet, manage the cost of university life, and build a better future. For the brave, the gullible, and the delusional, the search for financial freedom leads to opportunities such as forex trading. Forex trading is one of the money-making schemes that have caught the attention of young people, but how much do students know about what lies behind the promise?
You might be asking, “What is forex trading?” Forex trading, short for foreign exchange trading, is the decentralised global marketplace where individuals, banks, companies, and governments buy and sell world currencies. Unlike the stock market, forex has no physical central exchange. It operates electronically through a global network of financial institutions 24 hours a day, five days a week.
For many students, entering forex trading was not just about making money – it was about finding ways to survive financially in a university space and gaining financial freedom. In interviews, several students explained that their decision to enter forex trading was influenced by their financial struggles, their desire to improve their social media status, and their hope to improve their socio-economic circumstances. I know you might be thinking, “But, uhm, I’m only trading because I love trading stock and I have a passion for it, or trading is just a hobby for me.” Relax, we absolutely support and understand you, but this is for the hustling majority. With the cost of university life placing pressure on students, the idea of making extra income from forex seems appealing and simple. Social media platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, X, and YouTube, where trading is often associated with financial success, may add to this attraction.
And maybe you think you’re above the programme. Maybe you are not attracted by screenshots of making R100 000 with a mere R500, or the idea of driving the latest BMW IX3 while still being a student, or the possibilities of affording fancy hotels, restaurants, and clubs. But for students hoping to improve their financial situations, such social media content can make forex trading appear attractive and like a path to financial success. Although, what is shown online may not always reflect the full reality of trading, including the possibility of losing money and the time it takes to develop trading skills. The interviewed student Onkabetswe Waserala explained, “Social media forex influencers and forex traders are two different portfolios.” His statement highlights that making money through forex trading is not as easy or straightforward as social media influencers make it appear. While influencers often showcase profits and financial success, this may not reflect the risks and challenges that come with trading.
The simple screenshots of someone making R100 000 within a minute can influence the decision of students who are financially under pressure. PDBY interviewed Asavela Njiyela, a second-year BA student specialising in PPE, who shared how she lost R5 000 after being offered a trading robot with signals online. She deposited the money hoping to use the tool to help her forex trade, but the person disappeared with her money. Her experience depicts the lived realities of students getting scammed while trying to make money through forex trading. Concerns about online trading offers have also been raised by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA). In a press release dated 4 November 2025, the FSCA warned the public against forex, and urged the public to be cautious when considering trading offers on social media and to verify whether the people are authorised before paying.
To my esteemed, yet remarkably-trusting, high-velocity economic pioneers. Forex trading represents more than an opportunity to make money. For many, it is an opportunity to pursue financial freedom. However, the experiences shared by students show that the journey can also involve disappointment and financial losses. As you contemplate ways to hustle to improve your financial situation, the reality of forex trading deserves as much consideration as the lifestyle it promises.
