South Africa’s distorted distribution of wealth is one of the biggest challenges facing the country’s economy, with unemployment sitting at an unsustainable 27.7%. In terms of wealth, the top percentile households hold 70.9% while the bottom 60% holds a mere 7%. 76% of South Africans face an imminent threat of falling below the poverty line.... Continue Reading →
Thuli Madonsela, Founder and Chief Patron of Thuma Foundation and former Public Protector, shares her thoughts on South Africa's inequality problem. It is an absolute honour to be invited to this important conference on Confronting Inequality. The dialogue on inequality is timely as inequality and poverty in our country and the world are at their... Continue Reading →
On the 28th of September IFAA, with support from the Royal Netherlands Embassy, convened a conference on Confronting Inequality in South Africa. The conference covered the many dimensions of inequality as experienced in South Africa. Presentations were delivered by Dr Pali Lehohla, Dr Neva Makgetla, David Francis, Prof. Ivan Turok, Dr Gwen Ramokgopa and Andrew... Continue Reading →
By Michael Nassen Smith, Deputy Director of the Institute for African Alternatives (IFAA) publisher of New Agenda: South African Journal of Social and Economic Policy The Institute for African Alternatives recently hosted a conference on “Confronting Inequality”. This is a report back on conference proceedings. We believe that sharing a summary of the conference... Continue Reading →
THIS IS THE BACKGROUND PAPER FOR IFAA's FORTHCOMING CONFERENCE ON INEQUALITY. THURSDAY, 28 SEPTEMBER 2017, JOHANNESBURG *This paper will appear in New Agenda Issue 66 “We know from historical experience that if inequality is not addressed through peaceful means and peaceful democratic institutions it’s always potentially a source of violence.” Thomas Piketty It is... Continue Reading →
By Ben Turok, The author is an economist, former ANC member of parliament and the editor of New Agenda. This article originally appeared in New Agenda: South African Journal of Social and Economic Policy, Issue 66. State capture may have dominated the headlines this past year but the legacy of an unequal society... Continue Reading →
