Youth and Gender activist, Ayanda Sishi Wigzell speaks to Isobel Frye, Khutso Makobela and Amahle Ngwenya of SPI on Basic Income Grant in this two-part episode. In Part One Ayanda talks about the importance of Dignity in defining her activism and how poverty actively erodes this. Growing up she saw how grants enabled poor people in her surrounds to live with greater dignity of purpose. In Part Two Ayanda talks with great passion about the divide and distance between formal politicians and the youth in South Africa, concluding that if there were any decent politicians in South Africa today we would have had a universal Basic Income Grant a long time back. Visit the SPI website · Connect with Isobel on Twitter · Connect with Isobel on LinkedIn · Connect with Ayanda on LinkedIn · Connect with Ayanda on Twitter · Connect with Ayanda on Instagram · Visit the SPI website
Youth and Gender activist Ayanda Sishi Wigzell speaks to Isobel Frye, Khutso Makobela, and Amahle Ngwenya of SPI on Basic Income Grant in this two-part episode. Ayanda talks about the importance of dignity in defining her activism and how poverty actively erodes this. Growing up she saw how grants enabled poor people in her surroundings to live with greater dignity of purpose. Visit the SPI website · Follow Ayanda Sishi on Twitter · Follow Isobel Frye on Twitter · Connect with Ayanda on LinkedIn · Follow Ayanda Sishi on Instagram · Visit the SPI website
In this episode, Hein Marais, author of two critical works on the political economy of the South African transition and the stagnation of change, explains his reasoning for a universal basic income. Marais identifies the growing support of business for the idea and also says why the idea has traction now not only in South Africa but also globally. Visit the SPI website
In this episode, Hein Marais, author of two critical works on the political economy of the South African transition and the stagnation of change, explains his reasoning for a universal basic income. Marais identifies the growing support of business for the idea and also says why the idea has traction now not only in South Africa but also globally. Visit the SPI website
Portia Derby, Group Head of Transnet and Derek Thomas, co-founder and shareholder of Letsema Holdings, talk about why a BIG is the only common sense thing to do to get SA back on track and share their early awakenings of the inequality and madness of Apartheid which formed their commitment to social justice today. Visit the SPI website
Can South Africa Reimagine Economic Policy after 26 years of Democracy — Why has South Africa failed to transform its economy? During this episode, we have a conversation with Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi who served as a cabinet minister between 1996 and 2008. We explore social and macroeconomic policies during the first 15 years of democracy. We ask her how South Africa can recover from its deepest economic depression in a century. Connect with Geraldine on LinkedIn · Connect with Isobel on LinkedIn · Connect with Duma on LinkedIn · Visit the SPI website
Pilots, multipliers and Covid- recovery stimulus - let the evidence lead. In this episode, Guy Standing, internationally renowned expert and widely published author on BIG speaks to Duma and Isobel about his experience as an advisor to President Mandela on labour market issues, as well as his view that South Africa CANNOT afford not to have a universal Basic Income Grant (UBIG) both as a recovery stimulus but also as a central pillar of a sustainable future. He references his reasons to the many UBIG pilot studies that he has undertaken on four continents. Highly topical and extremely interesting to listen to: this episode is a historic marker in South Africa's policy deliberations. Connect with Guy on LinkedIn · Connect with Isobel on LinkedIn · Connect with Duma on LinkedIn · Visit the SPI website
In this episode, Busi Sibeko talks to Duma Gqubule and Isobel Frye about reimagining a Rewired fiscal policy in the wake of the Covid-19 economic depression. The conversation details the inadequacy of the stimulus package announced by the state on top of the austerity path already embarked on pre-Covid. The constitutional obligations of the state to adhere to human rights standards frames this episode that is remarkable in the breadth and depth of the analysis. Read Isobel Frye's 'Thinking for Tomorrow' blog · · Connect with Busi Sibeko on LinkedIn · · Connect with Duma on LinkedIn · Visit the SPI website
Understanding how past bad orthodox monetary policies must change. In this episode, Owen Willcox (formerly National Treasury and now with Oxford Policy Management) talks to hosts Isobel Frye and Duma Gqubule about the choices made around monetary policy and how this might have led to low economic growth and successive economic recessions. Owen and Duma unpack the economics of Quantitative Easing and we explore the political economy behind the feasibility of pro-poor post-Covid change. · Connect with Owen on LinkedIn · Connect with Isobel on LinkedIn · Connect with Duma on LinkedIn · Visit the SPI website
What is the BIG idea? — The Idea whose time has come. In this episode, Isobel and Duma talk to Ravi Naidoo who leads the Bluefields Group which focuses on impact investment. He previously served as a director of Naledi, Cosatu's think. During this time he represented organised labour in key social policy negotiations, including the landmark Taylor Commission, which recommended the adoption of a Basic Income Grant. During this episode, Ravi unpacks the key considerations that were at play in the Committee and where he thinks the debate is now. Connect with Ravi on LinkedIn · · · Visit the SPI website