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The Institute for Economic Justice and partner organizations criticize a R20 monthly increase to the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant starting 1 April, arguing it fails to address inflation, food precarity, and systemic exclusion of eligible beneficiaries.

The Institute for Economic Justice criticizes the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant for a 50% exclusion error rate and opposes proposed regulatory amendments that maintain the R350 value, set a short extension date of March 2025, and introduce punitive recovery or cancellation measures.

The Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) and #PayTheGrants (#PTG) submitted a response to the draft amendments of the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant regulations on 7 March 2024. The submission argues that the proposed regulations fail to meet government commitments to improve the grant, risk increasing exclusion errors, and introduce punitive measures that unfairly penalize vulnerable beneficiaries.

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) has released its Strategy Summary & Implementation Plan for 2023–2027, which outlines a framework to achieve systemic social and economic change. The strategy focuses on producing critical knowledge, shifting economic discourse, and supporting collective power to advance economic justice in South Africa and across the African continent, with a specific emphasis on feminist and intersectional analytical lenses.

The Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) submitted a report to the South African Parliament on February 26, 2024, criticizing the 2024 Budget for continuing a decade of austerity and budget cuts. The IEJ argues that the National Treasury's focus on debt stabilization and primary budget surpluses sacrifices public services and long-term economic growth, recommending instead a human-rights based fiscal approach with increased spending on social grants, public employment, and infrastructure.

This policy brief by the Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) argues that the South African government has failed to mobilise the maximum available resources (MAR), leading to unnecessary budget cuts in social services. It proposes a shift toward proactive resource mobilisation through tax reforms, debt renegotiation, and the use of reserves to ensure socioeconomic obligations are met.

The Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) criticizes the 2024 South African National Budget for prioritizing debt stabilization and budget cuts over essential public services and economic growth. The IEJ highlights a projected 23% decrease in real non-interest expenditure per capita by 2026/27 and argues that the government is ignoring viable revenue sources, such as wealth and financial transaction taxes. The statement notes that social grants, including the SRD grant, are failing to keep pace with inflation and that spending on healthcare, education, and economic drivers is declining. Furthermore, the IEJ warns against the government's heavy reliance on Private-Public Partnerships for infrastructure and electricity, citing increased fiscal risks and potential environmental damage.

The Universal Basic Income Coalition (UBIC) opposes draft amendments to the Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant regulations. While the amendments extend the grant until 2025, UBIC argues they introduce punitive measures, fail to address the grant's inadequate value relative to inflation, and maintain exclusionary practices that prevent millions from accessing support.

The Institute for Economic Justice and #PayTheGrants filed a court case on 21 July 2023 challenging the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant regulations. The challenge argues that barriers to access and the stagnant R350 monthly value violate the constitutional right to social assistance and constitute unconstitutional retrogression.

The Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) issued a statement criticizing President Ramaphosa's State of the Nation Address (SONA) for lacking concrete plans to address South Africa's economic and social crises. The IEJ proposes ten specific questions for Members of Parliament to ask the President, focusing on social grants, public infrastructure, the Just Energy Transition, and the mobilization of domestic resources to realize constitutional rights.

The Institute for Economic Justice and a coalition of partners issued a statement to the President of South Africa ahead of the 2024 State of the Nation Address (Sona), urging the government to align its budget and policy implementation with the needs of marginalised people and to end 'hyper-austerity' measures led by the National Treasury.

This policy brief by the Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) argues that the South African government has failed to raise the maximum available resources (MAR) to fund essential social services, leading to unnecessary austerity. The document identifies numerous tax and non-tax revenue streams—including wealth taxes, the removal of ineffective tax breaks, and the utilization of the Gold and Foreign Exchange Contingency Reserve Account (GFECRA)—that could provide hundreds of billions of rands to avoid budget cuts and stimulate economic growth.

This policy brief by the Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) details a legal challenge brought by the IEJ and #PayTheGrants against the South African government. The case contests the administration of the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant, arguing that systemic barriers, an arbitrary budget cap, and a static grant value violate the constitutional right to social assistance.

This fact sheet by the Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) presents the results of macroeconomic modelling conducted with Applied Development Research Solutions (ADRS) regarding the fiscal viability of a Basic Income Grant (BIG) in South Africa from 2023 to 2030. The document argues that a BIG is affordable and sustainable, potentially increasing GDP growth and reducing poverty without compromising the country's fiscal position.

This toolkit provides a human rights-based approach (HRBA) to climate finance, specifically designed for civil society organisations and trade unions to advocate for just energy transitions in developing nations. It critiques the 'Billions to Trillions' (B2T) neoliberal agenda and the Just Energy Transition - Investment Plan (JET-IP) in South Africa, arguing that these models prioritise private profit and debt over public goods and human rights. The guide outlines six clusters of rights-based principles—ranging from national responsibilities and sovereignty to debt relief in times of crisis—and provides practical 'How to' guides and factsheets to help advocates influence climate investment plans and national budgeting processes.

The Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) has established a formal Remuneration Policy to align staff compensation with its values of justice, fairness, and equity. Developed through a consultative process in 2023, the policy introduces a structured system of wage bands based on the Paterson grading system, aiming to balance market competitiveness with a commitment to reducing pay inequality and addressing historic inequities.

This working paper by the Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) for the Climate Ambition to Accountability Project (CAAP) evaluates climate financing through a rights-based framework, arguing that current models prioritizing private sector interests may compromise human rights and national autonomy.

The Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) submitted a parliamentary response to the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS), arguing that South Africa's current fiscal strategy prioritizes stability and business confidence over growth, employment, and poverty reduction.

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.