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The document analyzes Africa's economic trajectory, noting that while the absolute size of the economy is growing, its share of global GDP remains stagnant at around 3% despite a rapidly increasing population. It highlights a widening gap in GDP per capita between Africa and the rest of the world, attributing this to a reliance on raw material exports, the 'resource curse', and a slow recovery from COVID-19. By 2043, Nigeria is projected to become the world's third-largest country by population, and the five largest African economies are expected to be Nigeria, Egypt, South Africa, Ethiopia, and Kenya.

The IEJ criticizes the 2026 draft SRD grant regulations for ignoring long-standing systemic flaws, such as the inadequate grant value of R370 and restrictive online-only applications. While welcoming the extension of the grant to March 2027, the IEJ warns that this period expires before the planned introduction of the Basic Income Support (BIS) policy in March 2027. The submission advocates for a transition to a universal basic income, the use of self-declarations over inaccurate database verifications, and an increase in the grant value to meet the food poverty line of R855.

The Universal Basic Income Coalition (UBIC) argues that the 2026 Budget prioritises the wealthy and middle class over the vulnerable, leaving critical social grants like the Child Support Grant (CSG) and the Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant below the food poverty line. The coalition specifically warns that National Treasury's Targeted and Responsible Savings (TARS) programme, which aims for R3 billion in savings through intensified grant reviews, is based on flawed assumptions about beneficiary fraud and risks excluding millions of eligible people due to SASSA's capacity constraints.

The Universal Basic Income Coalition (UBIC) submits that food insecurity in South Africa is primarily a result of income poverty and landlessness rather than food scarcity. The submission highlights that while social grants have historically improved nutrition, their current adequacy and coverage are declining due to food inflation and fiscal austerity. UBIC proposes transforming the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant into a universal, unconditional, and redistributive basic income for all adults aged 18-59, pegged to the food poverty line (FPL) and eventually the upper-bound poverty line (UBPL).

The Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) asserts that while South Africa saw modest GDP growth of 1.2% in 2025 and improvements in energy and logistics, these gains have not reduced high unemployment, poverty, or food insecurity. The IEJ calls for a shift from market-centric policies to a developmental macroeconomic framework that prioritizes industrial policy, progressive taxation, and expanded social security to achieve inclusive growth.

The document argues that Universal Basic Income (UBI) in South Africa is a matter of justice rather than charity, asserting that it would unlock economic potential and provide a fairer social contract. It contends that UBI is more cost-effective and inclusive than targeted systems, which often suffer from high exclusion errors. The text suggests a UBI could start at the national food-poverty line of R796 per month or the food poverty line of R1 634 per month, with the latter having a gross cost of approximately R342 billion, though the net cost would be lower after tax returns and economic growth.

The IEJ argues that South Africa's 2025 MTBPS prioritises debt stabilisation over growth and social welfare, leading to 'indiscriminate and harmful cuts to spending' in health and education. The document criticises the reduction of the inflation target to 3%, the continued austerity in non-interest spending, and the reliance on private sector 'de-risking' and privatisation. It further highlights the precarious future of the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant and the failure to address structural unemployment through activist fiscal policies.

The study finds significant priority divergence between African climate plans (NDCs) and development plans (NDPs), noting that NDCs are often externally driven by international financing and environment ministries, while NDPs are domestically coordinated by economic planning ministries. This disconnect leads to energy transition strategies that may lack pragmatism and overlook economic performance metrics like reliability and affordability. The report recommends establishing inter-ministerial committees and increasing local technical capacity to integrate these frameworks, ensuring climate action supports poverty reduction and economic growth.

The UBIC opposes government proposals to link the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant to employment, arguing that such conditions are ineffective in a context of structural unemployment and serve as a tactic to reduce social spending. The statement calls for the grant, which is due to expire in March 2026, to be extended and transformed into an unconditional, expansive basic income to address poverty.

The document examines fraud within South Africa's social grant system, asserting that while the government focuses on monitoring and excluding poor recipients through automated systems and strict eligibility checks, the most significant fraud is perpetrated by government officials and external contractors. It details various types of fraud, including internal corruption, identity theft, and illegal loan schemes, and criticizes the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) for using flawed algorithms and biometric verification that create barriers for the most vulnerable populations.

The document analyzes the governance trajectories of Nigeria and South Africa through the lens of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). While both nations have established democratic frameworks and seen some progress, the author finds that stagnation or regression persists in critical areas. In Nigeria, challenges include electoral trust, corruption, and insecurity driven by Boko Haram. In South Africa, the focus is on extreme inequality, xenophobia, and the failure to fully realize the 'liberal democratic Republic' envisioned in its constitution. Both countries struggle with poor policy implementation and gender-based violence.

The National Treasury has instructed the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) to reduce the number of social grant recipients through strict verification procedures, such as facial recognition and bank account checks, to protect the fiscus. The Institute for Economic Justice reports that similar procedures for the R370 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant resulted in up to 90% of applicants being wrongly rejected. This occurs against a backdrop of rising food insecurity, with the proportion of households experiencing moderate to severe food insecurity increasing from 16% in 2019 to 20% in 2023, and child poverty rising from 55.6% in 2019 to 69.9% in 2022. To address this, advocates propose a Universal Basic Income (UBI) for all working-age adults, financed by additional taxation on the wealthy, to stimulate the economy and ensure redistributive justice.

The fact sheet advocates for Universal Social Protection Floors to ensure global access to basic healthcare and income security. It notes that nearly 29% of the global population faces hunger and over 575 million people are projected to live in extreme poverty by 2030. The text details the G20's history with social protection, including Indonesia's 'adaptive social protection' and Brazil's 'Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty', while positioning South Africa's G20 presidency as an opportunity to integrate social protection with economic and industrial strategies.

The document assesses the failure of South Africa's current free basic services (FBS) framework to provide a meaningful social wage for the millions of households living below the poverty line. It identifies three primary barriers: exclusionary municipal indigent policies, benefit levels (especially electricity) that are too low to meet developmental access needs, and restrictive conditions that hinder productive activities. The brief advocates for a redesign of the FBS and indigent register system that remains compatible with national budget constraints.

The document advocates for Universal Social Protection Floors (SPF) as a means to ensure basic healthcare and income security globally. It highlights South Africa's role during its G20 Presidency to promote a voluntary framework for SPFs and the integration of social protection with industrial strategies. The text emphasizes the need for political will and funding, noting that only 12% of global development targets are currently on track.

The policy brief argues that current Free Basic Services (FBS) in South Africa provide only a 'survival' level of access that fails to lift households out of poverty. It proposes increasing free electricity to 150kWh and water to 8kl per month for households earning below the minimum wage, while shifting administration from municipalities to a social grant system (SASSA) to reduce exclusion and administrative inefficiency.

The report argues that South Africa's current free basic services (FBS) for electricity and water are insufficient to lift households out of poverty, providing only 'survival access' rather than 'developmental access'. It finds that for 40% of the population living below the lower-bound poverty line, current tariffs are unaffordable, often forcing a trade-off between paying for utilities and purchasing adequate nutrition. The document identifies 'adverse inclusion'—where physical connection to a grid exists but the terms of use are restrictive or unaffordable—as a primary barrier to socioeconomic development. It recommends increasing free electricity from 50kWh to 150kWh and water from 6kl to 8kl per month for the poorest 7.5 million households, while replacing municipal discretion in indigent registration with a national policy.

The Universal Basic Income Coalition (UBIC) argues that proposed amendments to the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) Grant regulations are insufficient and ignore a High Court ruling declaring key elements unconstitutional. UBIC highlights that the grant value of R370 remains below half the food poverty line (R796) and that the means test threshold of R624 continues to exclude needy applicants. The submission criticizes the short three-week public consultation window and the persistence of digital and linguistic barriers, urging the government to replace piecemeal annual extensions with a permanent, inclusive universal basic income grant to support 9 million food-insecure people.

The Universal Basic Income Coalition (UBIC) argues that proposed amendments to the COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant regulations in South Africa are insufficient and fail to address long-standing exclusionary barriers. UBIC highlights that the late publication of amendments created uncertainty for beneficiaries and that the current system continues to exclude millions through digital barriers, restrictive means-tests, and a failure to adjust grant values for inflation. The coalition specifically criticizes the proposed deletion of sub-regulation 3(b), which may render the collection of certain applicant data baseless, and calls for the grant to be transitioned into a permanent basic income programme rather than continuing annual piecemeal extensions.

The Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) and the Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) oppose a proposed VAT increase in South Africa, claiming it disproportionately harms low-income households, African women, and people with disabilities. They argue that such a regressive tax is incongruent with the constitutional mandate for transformative governance and social justice. Instead, the organizations advocate for progressive alternatives, including wealth taxes, increased company tax, and improved tax collection efficiency, to address budget shortfalls without exacerbating hunger and poverty.