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This policy brief by the Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) advocates for the implementation of a Universal Basic Income Guarantee (UBIG) for adults aged 18-59 in South Africa to combat poverty and hunger. The IEJ recommends an immediate increase of the COVID-19 grant to R585 per month and a short-term transition to a universal grant funded by R158 billion in proposed progressive tax measures, including a Social Security Tax and a future wealth tax. The brief argues that universality is more administratively efficient and socially just than means-testing, aligning with South Africa's constitutional obligations to provide social security.

The Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) delivered a statement on 18 March 2025 to the G20's Task Force 1 on Inclusive Economic Growth, Industrialisation, Employment, and Reduced Inequality. The statement advocates for the development of G20 High-Level Principles on Green Industrial Policy to drive a global green transition that prioritizes structural transformation, inclusive growth, and the reduction of global inequality.

The Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) critiques South Africa's 'National Budget 2.0' (13 March 2025), arguing that while it signals a shift away from strict spending cuts, it fails to reverse austerity damage and relies on regressive taxation. The IEJ advocates for a pro-poor fiscal strategy focusing on job creation, wealth redistribution, and increased funding for social grants and public services.

The Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) argues that proposed fiscal rules and continued budget cuts in South Africa's 2025 budget will undermine the Government of National Unity's (GNU) goals for inclusive growth and a 3% GDP growth target by 2027.

The Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) submitted a set of recommendations to the UNFCCC Secretariat on March 12, 2026, regarding the operationalisation of the Just Transition Mechanism under the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Just Transition Work Programme (JTWP). The IEJ argues that the mechanism must be equity-oriented, demand-driven, and primarily grant-based to avoid exacerbating debt burdens in developing countries.

The Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) submitted a matrix of policy recommendations to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights. The submission advocates for a shift away from regressive fiscal policies and growth-dependent poverty eradication, proposing instead a comprehensive social protection floor, progressive taxation, and the democratization of the budget process in South Africa, alongside global reforms to the World Bank and IMF.

This fact sheet by the Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) examines fraud within South Africa's social grant system. It argues that while the government focuses its crackdown on individual beneficiaries through automated surveillance and strict eligibility reviews, the most significant fraud by value is perpetrated by government officials and predatory third parties. The document contends that these anti-fraud measures disproportionately exclude eligible, vulnerable people—including seniors and persons with disabilities—due to flawed data and onerous compliance requirements.

This fact sheet from the Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) argues that a Universal Basic Income Guarantee (UBIG) in South Africa can promote gender equality and social cohesion by providing a permanent, unconditional government payment to all adults to meet basic needs.

This fact sheet outlines a proposed phased implementation of a Universal Basic Income Guarantee (UBIG) in South Africa from 2023 to 2030. Based on research by Applied Development Research Solutions (ADRS), the document presents three pathways (low, medium, and high) to introduce a monthly grant for all adults aged 18 to 59, arguing that such a system is fiscally sustainable and would stimulate economic growth, reduce poverty, and lower unemployment.

This fact sheet by the Institute for Economic Justice provides a critique of South Africa's progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), arguing that the government's adoption of fiscal austerity and regressive tax policies is hindering the reduction of extreme economic inequality and the fulfillment of social and economic rights.

This joint submission by the Center for Economic and Social Rights, the Institute for Economic Justice, and SECTION27 argues that South Africa is implementing retrogressive austerity measures that threaten economic, social, and cultural rights. The authors contend that the government's focus on debt reduction is based on exaggerated concerns and that resources could be maximized through progressive tax reform and the eradication of corruption and 'state capture'. The document details how budget cuts and inefficient resourcing are severely undermining the public health and basic education systems, leading to critical staff shortages, infrastructure backlogs, and poor learner outcomes.

This fact sheet, produced by the Institute for Economic Justice and SECTION27, analyzes budget trends in South Africa's basic education sector. It argues that austerity measures have led to a real-terms decline in per-learner funding, resulting in critical infrastructure failures, particularly regarding school sanitation and support for learners with disabilities, despite the constitutional right to basic education.

This 2019 election brief by the Institute for Economic Justice and SECTION27 analyzes the funding crisis in South Africa's healthcare system, highlighting the disparity between private and public sectors and the impact of austerity measures on health outcomes and staffing.

A joint submission by the Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) and the Socio-Economic Rights Institute (SERI) providing recommendations on the draft amendments to the regulations for the COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant in South Africa.

A joint media statement from a civil society collective detailing a meeting on 18 January 2022 with President Cyril Ramaphosa and government ministers to discuss the extension of the R350 Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) Grant and the implementation of a Basic Income Guarantee (BIG) in South Africa.

A letter dated 14 October 2025 from a coalition of 165 global and regional civil society and debt justice organisations to President Cyril Ramaphosa, urging South Africa to use its G20 Presidency to lead radical reforms of the international debt architecture to support the Global South, particularly Africa.

The Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) submitted a report on 28 October 2022 urging the South African government to shift its fiscal framework from a narrow focus on debt stabilisation and primary budget surpluses toward targeting unemployment, poverty, and inequality. The IEJ argues that current austerity measures are causing a regression in the realisation of socio-economic human rights, specifically within education, healthcare, and social security, and proposes a transition to progressive taxation to fund public services and a permanent basic income support system.

An open letter dated 24 October 2024, signed by a coalition of civil society, labour organisations, and policy experts, addressed to President Cyril Ramaphosa. The letter expresses concern that the National Treasury is exercising disproportionate influence over social development policy, specifically by obstructing the transition of the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant into a permanent basic income system.

An open letter from over 75 economists and analysts to President Cyril Ramaphosa and the South African Cabinet arguing that government economic interventions to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 are insufficient in scale and speed compared to global responses.

This research paper finds that approximately half of the target population for South Africa's Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant is excluded, with an average of 76% of those excluded being eligible. The study identifies that rapid digitalization and automation, lacking transparency and oversight, create systemic barriers to application, verification, payment, and appeal. These barriers disproportionately affect those already marginalized by digital, financial, and spatial inequalities, leading to severe hardship and hunger.