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The Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) submitted a critique of South Africa's 2026 Budget, arguing that the National Treasury continues a decade of austerity that undermines economic growth and public service delivery. The IEJ contends that the budget prioritizes debt stabilization and tax relief for high-income earners over critical investments in infrastructure, education, and social protection, thereby failing to address chronic food insecurity and unemployment.

The Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) criticizes the 2024 Budget from National Treasury for its continued reliance on austerity measures and private sector investment, arguing that these policies undermine public services, socio-economic rights, and climate change efforts.

The Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) submitted a report to the South African Standing and Select Committees on Finance criticizing the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) for continuing a path of austerity. The IEJ argues that the government should shift from a narrow focus on debt stabilization to a development-focused budget that prioritizes growth, employment, and poverty reduction. The report proposes specific revenue-raising measures, such as wealth taxes and utilizing the GFECRA surplus, and calls for the restructuring of Eskom's debt to facilitate a just energy transition.

The Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) issued a statement on February 21, 2023, arguing that South Africa's national budgets and monetary policies have systematically undermined the government's developmental goals. The IEJ calls for a shift away from debt stabilisation and austerity toward a development-focused budget that prioritises public investment in infrastructure, the care economy, and the green economy, while specifically addressing the crisis at Eskom and the inadequacy of social protection grants.