What we want from the G20, and what South Africa can deliver

As the world’s major economies meet on African soil for the first time, the Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) is calling for a global economic system that puts people before profit. Our campaign calls on the G20 to act where it matters most, ensuring debt justice, fair taxation, food security, and climate finance that work for all.

DEBT JUSTICE

Replace an unjust system that traps nations in repayment cycles with one that invests in people’s futures.

TAX FAIRNESS

Support a global framework to tax the super-rich and end profit-shifting that drains public funds.

FOOD AND SOCIAL PROTECTION

Guarantee that no one goes hungry through investments in buffer stocks and universal social floors.

CLIMATE FINANCE AND JUST TRANSITION

Ensure the Climate Finance and Just Transition: Ensure the energy transition uplifts, rather than excludes, the Global South.

WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT

Across the world, women perform billions of hours of unpaid care work every day, caring for children, the sick, and the elderly.

This invisible work keeps societies running, yet it goes unrewarded.

MEET THE EXPERTS

Kamal Ramburuth

Project Lead | Global Economic Governance

Email: kamal.ramburuth@iej.org.za

Kamal Ramburuth, formerly a Researcher in Debt and Development Finance at the IEJ, leads our G20 project. His research interests are in sovereign debt and development finance. Kamal holds a BComm (Hons) in Applied Development Economics from the  University of the Witwatersrand. As part of his post-graduate training, Kamal studied in Italy and France as part of a two-year double degree in Economic Policies for the Global transition (EPOG), which is an Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters Degree in Economics. As a student, Kamal was a co-founder of the Rethinking Economics for Africa chapter at the  University of the Witwatersrand. As an elected member of the inaugural Rethinking Economics (RE) members council, Kamal played a role in bolstering the RE movement internationally. He has previously worked as a consulting researcher at the Southern Centre for Inequality Studies (SCIS) and the United Nations Conference for Trade and Development (UNCTAD). 

Focus Areas

Debt, G20@20, Green Industrial Policy, Task Force 1

Dr. Mzwanele Ntshwanti

Senior Researcher

Email: mzwanele.ntshwanti@iej.org.za

Mzwanele Ntshwanti is a Senior Researcher in the IEJ’s G20 project. His work focuses on supporting the South African G20 Sherpa with economic policy research and drafting concept and issue notes for different working groups and task forces.

He holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Birmingham, U.K., and an MSc (Economic Science) from the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. He is an academic and activist with research interests in open macroeconomic dynamics, international trade and finance, and higher education policy. He has served on various committees on education and economic policy. He has published in academic journals and presented at multiple conferences locally and internationally on curriculum transformation; higher education funding; unemployment and inequality in South Africa; household debt; and global current account imbalances, focusing on emerging economies.

Focus Areas

Critical Minerals, Debt, Energy Transitions, Financing for Development, Green Industrial Policy

Nerissa Muthayan

Junior Researcher | Global Economic Governance

Email: nerissa.muthayan@iej.org.za

Nerissa Muthayan is a Junior G20 Researcher at IEJ, where she focuses on research and advocacy to advance civil society priorities within the G20 framework. As a researcher and data scientist, she is dedicated to bridging the gap between data, research, and policy to create more inclusive economic frameworks and drive positive societal change. Nerissa is currently completing her Master’s Degree in Data Science (e-Science) at the University of the Witwatersrand and holds an Honours Degree with distinction in International Relations, as well as a Bachelor’s Degree with distinction in International Relations, Political Science, and English Literature. Before joining the IEJ, Nerissa was a Research Fellow at the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) and completed a visiting research fellowship at the Institute for Applied Economic Research (Ipea) in Brazil.

Focus Areas

G20@20 from a government perspective, Food Security Task Force

Dr. Tsega Tefera

Senior Researcher | G20 Women's Economic Empowerment

Email: tsega.tefera@iej.org.za

Tsega Girma is a Senior Researcher – G20 Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) at the Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ). She focuses on advancing the G20’s commitment to mobilising budgetary resources for women’s economic empowerment, particularly through investment in health, nutrition, education, and other care services, time-saving infrastructure and technology, and social protection. As a feminist economist, Tsega critically examines conventional economic frameworks, policies, and initiatives, advocating for gender-equitable solutions. She also specialises in food systems and micro and small enterprise (MSE) development, working to assess and address gaps in public and private institutions through capacity building, knowledge sharing, and fostering sustainable stakeholder linkages. Tsega holds a PhD from the University of the Western Cape (UWC), an MA in Development Economics from Unity University, a BA Honours in Development Studies from the University of South Africa (UNISA), and a BA in Economics from Addis Ababa University.

Focus Areas

Women’s Economic Empowerment Working Group, Care Economy

Shikwane Makoga

Junior Researcher | UBIG

Email: shikwane.makoga@iej.org.za

Shikwane Makoga is a Junior Programme Officer at IEJ. He focuses on civil society support and fostering multilateral collaboration to address global challenges within the G20 context. Shikwane brings a dynamic blend of legal expertise, policy insight and grassroots activism to the intersection of global governance and civil society.  Shikwane previously worked in the legal space, focusing on IT contracting and data protection compliance, but his roots are in student activism and community mobilisation. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Studies and International Relations and an LLB from the University of the Witwatersrand.

Focus Areas

Civil society in the G20, G20@20 review from a civil society perspective, the role of civil society in the G20

Siyanda Baduza

Junior Researcher | UBIG

Email: siyanda.baduza@iej.org.za

Siyanda Baduza is a Junior Basic Income Researcher at IEJ. He holds a BSc in Economics and Mathematics, an Honours degree in Applied Development Economics, and is currently completing a Master’s degree in Applied Development Economics at the University of the Witwatersrand. Siyanda’s research focuses on the impacts of social grants on wellbeing, with a particular focus on the gendered dynamics of this impact. His interests include applied micro-economics, policy impact evaluation, labour markets, gender economics, and political economy. He is passionate about translating economic research into impactful policy.

Focus Areas

Universal Social Floors

Joan Stott

Senior Programme Officer | Climate Finance and Resource Mobilisation

Email: joan.stott@iej.org.za

Joan Stott holds a Bachelor of Business Science in Economics and a Master’s in Economics from Rhodes University. While completing her postgraduate studies, she began her career in the Budget Office at South Africa’s National Treasury. From 2005 to 2012, she managed the fiscal framework and contributed to seven national budget cycles. During this time, she also played a key role in South Africa’s engagements with SACU, the G20, IMF, World Bank, and credit ratings agencies. In 2012, Joan transitioned from government to roles in economic policy and legislative development at Business Unity South Africa (BUSA) and the National Economic Development and Labour Council (NEDLAC). The following year, she was awarded the prestigious Mo Ibrahim Foundation Leadership Fellowship. As part of the fellowship, she was mentored by then African Development Bank President Donald Kaberuka and seconded to the office of the Special Envoy on Gender, Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi. She continued consulting for the Bank on advancing women’s financial inclusion across Africa until 2015. Since then, Joan has continued to deepen her work in public finance and institutional economics, holding roles at the Collaborative Africa Budget Reform Initiative (CABRI), the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Treatment Action Campaign, UNICEF, the African Union, and Amnesty International. She brings to the IEJ a wealth of experience in public finance management, policy development, institutional capacity-building, and advancing socio-economic and fiscal justice.

Focus Areas

Just Transition, Climate Finance, Sustainable Finance, Public Finance Management

Liso Mdutyana

Junior Researcher | Budget and Debt Justice

Email: liso.mdutyana@iej.org.za

Liso Mdutyana has a BCom in Philosophy and Economics, an Honours in Applied Development Economics, and is a Masters candidate in Applied Development Economics at Wits University. His areas of interest include political economy, labour markets, technology and work, and industrial policy. Through his work Liso aims to show the possibility and necessity of economic development that prioritises human wellbeing for everyone.

Liso has joined the IEJ as part of a new collaboration with the Canon Collins Trust. This collaboration entails the IEJ hosting Liso, the recipient of a Canon Collins Trust scholarship in MCom Applied Development Economics at Wits University, for 6-months as an IEJ intern.

Focus Areas

IFIs, Budget Justice

Bandile Ngidi

Programme Officer | Rethinking Economics

Email: bandile.ngidi@iej.org.za

Bandile Ngidi is the Programme Officer for Rethinking Economics for Africa. Bandile has previously worked at the National Minimum Wage Research Initiative and Oxfam South Africa. He holds a Masters in Development Theory and Policy from Wits University. He joined the IEJ in August 2018. Bandile is currently working on incubating the Rethinking Economics for Africa movement (working with students, academics and broader civil society). The movement promotes economic pluralism, and alternative economic discourse and economic policy.

Focus Areas

Youth perspective in challenging the economic orthodoxies of the G20

Juhi Kasan

Project Lead | Care Economies

Email: juhi.kasan@iej.org.za

Juhi Kasan leads the Care Economy project at the IEJ. She holds a Master’s degree in Industrial Sociology and an Honours degree in Development Studies from the University of Cape Town and a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and Sociology from the University of the Witwatersrand. Her research explores social care regimes in South Africa, particularly state responses to Early Childhood Development and Long-Term Care for older persons during the Covid-19 pandemic. Her broader research interests include feminist economics, worlds of work, and the care economy.

Focus Areas

Women’s Economic Empowerment Working Group, Care Economy, Financial Inclusion of Women

Dr. Andrew Bennie

Senior Researcher | Climate Policy and Food Systems

Email: andrew.bennie@iej.org.za

Dr Andrew Bennie is a Senior Researcher in Climate Policy and Food Systems at the IEJ. He has an extensive background in academic and civil society research, organising, and activism. He previously worked as a researcher, organiser, and popular educator with township and rural organisations, and coordinated national food justice campaigning. He has also worked in research and advocacy in the broader African food sovereignty movement. Andrew has an MA in Development and Environmental Sociology and a PhD in Sociology on food politics, the agrarian question, and collective action in South Africa, both from the University of the Witwatersrand. His research expertise is in political economy and ecology, land and agrarian studies, food systems and climate justice. He is passionate about using his capacities (including writing and photography) towards collective struggles for justice and equality.

Focus Areas

Food Security Task Force

Dr. Basani Baloyi

Programme Director

Email: basani.baloyi@iej.org.za

Dr Basani Baloyi is a Programme Director at the IEJ. She is a feminist, development economist, and activist. She gained her research experience while working on industrial policy issues in academia, at the Centre for Competition, Regulation, and Economic Development (CCRED) and Corporate Strategy and Industrial Development (CSID) Unit. She is the former Inequality Programme Lead at Oxfam South Africa, where she infused her research and management experience with movement building and coordination, campaigning and advocating for economic and social justice, in partnership with social movements.

Basani is also the former Director of Industrial Policy and Acting Chief Director in the Industrial Procurement Unit at the Department of Trade and Industry. She holds a PhD in Economics from the School of Oriental and African Studies, an MA in Public Policy, and an MCom in Economics from the University of the Witwatersrand. As a former drama student and child actress, she has a strong, fiery passion for the arts and is in constant pursuit of using that artistic background in her advocacy work for social change.

Basani has recently also served as an advisory council member of the C20 Brazil, one of the official engagement bodies of the 2024 G20 Summit held in Brazil.

Focus Areas

Trade

Amaarah Garda

Junior Programme Officer | REFA

Email: amaarah.garda@iej.org.za

Amaarah is a Junior Programme Officer in the Rethinking Economics for Africa project. She is currently studying towards her Masters in Applied Development Economics at Wits University.

Focus Areas

Youth perspective in challenging the economic orthodoxies of the G20
IEJ G20 in the Media
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