Academics, activists, and experts told ActionSA today that it should spur economic growth in South Africa, provide additional support to entrepreneurs and consider the introduction of a universal basic income grant to help bring about economic justice in South Africa.
These were just some of the suggestions put forward at our Policy Expert Discussion Panel on Economic Justice held in Johannesburg today. Twenty-nine years after the fall of Apartheid, South Africa remains a deeply unequal society where many are excluded from economic opportunity based on their gender, the colour of their skin or their geography.
The engagement, hosted in collaboration with the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS), featured ActionSA National Spokesperson, Lerato Ngobeni, with inputs from a former Member of Parliament and RightfulShare’s Karen Jooste, Social Policy Initiative’s Isobel Frye, Heartlines’s Seth Naicker, Efficient Group’s Dr Francois Stofberg, Johannesburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Connie Mashaba, and ActionSA Chief Director of Governance, Dr Nasiphi Moya.
The robust debate put forward tangible solutions to tackle economic justice to create a more free and equal society in South Africa. Jooste suggested that a universal basic income grant would assist in creating opportunities for thousands of South Africans and create economic growth. Frye echoed Jooste’s sentiments but said that without an increase in sustainable economic growth, a universal basic income grant would become unaffordable for the country.
Naicker spoke about the need to address societal biases and misconceptions, particularly highlighting how young men need to be supported to reduce phenomena such as gender-based violence. Stofberg emphasised how South Africa has been stuck in low economic and job growth, and urgent reforms are necessary to help reduce inequality in South Africa. Meanwhile, Mashaba emphasised the need for quality education to improve access to opportunity – a point which was widely supported. She advocated for better support for entrepreneurship in the country, suggesting both mentor and monetary support to help enterprises hire more people.
Today’s expert panel – the 7th out of 13 panels – forms part of ActionSA’s broader policy engagement process ahead of our inaugural policy conference in September where we are also asking everyday experts, our members, and the people of South Africa for solutions to the most pressing issues in our society.
ActionSA believes that solutions on how to fix South Africa won’t come from politicians but will come from experts and ordinary citizens who are most affected.
Together we will be able to provide a clear alternative for South Africans and usher in change in the 2024 elections. Submissions can be made on ActionSA’s public platform here. The last date for submissions is on Wednesday.
Grow the Economy, Support Entrepreneurs and Consider Universal Basic Income as Means to Bring Economic Justice, Experts Tell ActionSA
Academics, activists, and experts told ActionSA today that it should spur economic growth in South Africa, provide additional support to entrepreneurs and consider the introduction of a universal basic income grant to help bring about economic justice in South Africa.
These were just some of the suggestions put forward at our Policy Expert Discussion Panel on Economic Justice held in Johannesburg today. Twenty-nine years after the fall of Apartheid, South Africa remains a deeply unequal society where many are excluded from economic opportunity based on their gender, the colour of their skin or their geography.
The engagement, hosted in collaboration with the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS), featured ActionSA National Spokesperson, Lerato Ngobeni, with inputs from a former Member of Parliament and RightfulShare’s Karen Jooste, Social Policy Initiative’s Isobel Frye, Heartlines’s Seth Naicker, Efficient Group’s Dr Francois Stofberg, Johannesburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Connie Mashaba, and ActionSA Chief Director of Governance, Dr Nasiphi Moya.
The robust debate put forward tangible solutions to tackle economic justice to create a more free and equal society in South Africa. Jooste suggested that a universal basic income grant would assist in creating opportunities for thousands of South Africans and create economic growth. Frye echoed Jooste’s sentiments but said that without an increase in sustainable economic growth, a universal basic income grant would become unaffordable for the country.
Naicker spoke about the need to address societal biases and misconceptions, particularly highlighting how young men need to be supported to reduce phenomena such as gender-based violence. Stofberg emphasised how South Africa has been stuck in low economic and job growth, and urgent reforms are necessary to help reduce inequality in South Africa. Meanwhile, Mashaba emphasised the need for quality education to improve access to opportunity – a point which was widely supported. She advocated for better support for entrepreneurship in the country, suggesting both mentor and monetary support to help enterprises hire more people.
Today’s expert panel – the 7th out of 13 panels – forms part of ActionSA’s broader policy engagement process ahead of our inaugural policy conference in September where we are also asking everyday experts, our members, and the people of South Africa for solutions to the most pressing issues in our society.
ActionSA believes that solutions on how to fix South Africa won’t come from politicians but will come from experts and ordinary citizens who are most affected.
Together we will be able to provide a clear alternative for South Africans and usher in change in the 2024 elections. Submissions can be made on ActionSA’s public platform here. The last date for submissions is on Wednesday.