It is difficult to access overseas asset managers easily from within South Africa (‘onshore’). Leaving aside UK and global investment platforms aside (IG/Interactive Brokers/etc), my research thus far (as of July 2022) has yielded only two ways to do this easily.
1. Via an EasyEquities GBP account. You will need to have an EE account already to access this.
Funds available:
Scottish Mortgage (SMT.L)
As a member of the FTSE 100, it’s unsurprising to see Baillie Gifford’s flagship investment trust offered. While SMT via EE is not ZAR-denominated, it’s simply to convert ZAR to GBP on the EE platform and then buy SMT shares. One can hope that more Baillie Gifford-managed investment trusts like Monks (MNKS.L), Edinburgh Worldwide (EWI.L) and Baillie Gifford US Growth (USA.L), all in the FTSE 350 index, will be available in due course.
2. Via an Allan Gray account.
Funds available:
Baillie Gifford Worldwide Emerging Markets Leading Companies Fund (USD) (Class B)
Baillie Gifford Worldwide Long Term Global Growth Fund (USD) (Class B)
Allan Gray appears to be the only local investment platform facilitating (retail) investment in Baillie Gifford mutual funds/unit trusts. I haven’t tried doing this myself, so cannot speak to the ease of access, and whether one can use ZAR or require USD in order to invest.