Press Releases

Zimbali Mncube is a Junior Researcher at the IEJ. He is passionate about social and economic justice. Zimbali has been in the civil society space since 2019, previously at the Foundation for Human Rights (FHR) as an Intern and the Studies in Poverty and Inequality Institute in 2021 before joining the IEJ. He holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours in International Relations) and a Masters in Development Studies from Wits University. He is currently working on the Budget and Tax Justice project which is in line with his interest in a more developmental and human rights-based macroeconomic policy framework to advance socio-economic rights.

Email: zimbali.mncube@iej.org.za

Mandisa Dyantyi is the Deputy Chair of the Board at the Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ). Mandisa has been working in the social justice space for the past eight years. She’s worked for organisations such as the Open Society Foundation, The Catholic Parliamentary Liaison Office and the Economic Justice Network. Mandisa is currently the Deputy General Secretary of the Social Justice Coalition (SJC). Mandisa holds a Masters in political studies from the University of the Western Cape.

Ayabonga Cawe is the Treasurer of the Board at the Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ). Ayabonga works as an economist, columnist, radio presenter, photographer and activist. He has taken part in a wide range of research, advisory and policy engagements on development issues in agriculture, rail, urban design and labour market policy. Ayabonga is currently a member of the Presidential Economic Advisory Council. He holds an Masters in Commerce in Development Theory and Policy from the University of the Witwatersrand. Ayabonga was part of the founding reference group of the IEJ.

Mcebisi Jonas is a former Deputy Finance Minister of the Government of South Africa. Mcebisi was a prominent anti-apartheid activist and well-known activist, thinker and politician. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in History and Sociology, and a Higher Diploma in Education. He recently authored After Dawn: Hope After State Capture.

Dinga Sikwebu is a long-serving trade union and anti-apartheid activist. Dinga currently works at the National Union of Metal Workers of South Africa (NUMSA), where he was previously Head of Education. He was recently the Co-director for Programmes at the Tshisimani Centre for Activist Education. Dinga is an expert on trade union and activist organisation, political education and strategy. Dinga was part of the founding reference group of the IEJ.

Kate Philip is a development strategist with decades of experience in the policy space. She has provided advisory support to the South African Presidency on issues of economic marginalisation, inequality, employment and enterprise development. Kate played a central role in the design and development of South Africa’s Community Work Programme. She holds a PhD in Development Studies.

Tony Ehrenreich is a long-standing South African trade unionist and formerly the Western Cape Provincial Secretary and Deputy General Secretary of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU).

Professor Fiona Tregenna holds the DST/NRF South African Research Chair in Industrial Development, and is a Professor of Economics at the University of Johannesburg. She has a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Cambridge, a Master’s degree in Economics from the University of Massachusetts, and earlier degrees from the Universities of the Witwatersrand and Natal (now KwaZulu-Natal). Her primary research focus is on issues of structural change, deindustrialisation and industrial development. She is a part-time Member of the Competition Tribunal where she adjudicates competition (anti-trust) cases, and she has served on a number of boards, advisory panels and councils, including the Presidential Economic Advisory Council. Fiona is also an elected member of the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) and serves on several bodies.

Zane Dangor is the Chairman of the Board at the IEJ. Zane Dangor currently serves as the Special Adviser to the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation. Before joining DIRCO he worked as the Chief Operations Office to Soul City. He has also worked at UNFPA, the National Department of Social Development, in civil society and as a consultant in various capacities. Zane holds a Masters in Law (LLM) in International Law and a Masters Public and Development Management, both from the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa.

Lyn Ossome is the Senior Research Specialist and Feminist Economics Lead at the IEJ. Previously, Lyn was a Senior Research Fellow at the Makerere Institute of Social Research, Makerere University. She received her PhD in Political Studies from Wits University. She specialises in feminist political economy and feminist political theory, with research interests and numerous publications in gendered labour, land and agrarian studies, the modern state and the political economy of gendered violence. She has been a visiting scholar at the National Chiao Tung University, Wits University, and Visiting Presidential Professor at Yale University. Lyn also serves as a Senior Research Associate at the University of Johannesburg and contributes to several boards including the Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA Network), the International Association for Feminist Economics (IAFFE), and the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA).

Email: lyn.ossome@iej.org.za

Dr Basani Baloyi is the Climate, Energy and Infrastructure Programme Lead 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.

Dr Baloyi is also the former Director of Industrial Policy and Acting Chief Director in the Industrial Procurement Unit at the Department of Trade and Industry. Dr Baloyi holds a PhD in Economics at the School of Oriental and African Studies, an MA in Public Policy and an MCom in Economics from Wits University. As a former drama student and child actress, Dr Baloyi 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.

Email: basani.baloyi@iej.org.za

Neil Coleman is a Senior Policy Specialist at the IEJ. He has been an activist, strategist and policy researcher in the South African Mass Democratic Movement, United Democratic Front, Tripartite Alliance and Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) since the late 1970s, and a COSATU official between 1989-2017. He participated in the constitutional negotiations, headed COSATU’s parliamentary office, was special advisor to Department of Economic Development Minister Ebrahim Patel and Strategies Co-ordinator in the COSATU Secretariat. Neil led Labour’s delegation in the national minimum wage negotiations 2015-2017.

Email: neil.coleman@iej.org.za

Katrina Lehmann-Grube is a Junior Researcher at the IEJ. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Applied Biology, Ecology and Evolution from the University of Cape Town and a Masters in Environment, Politics and Development from SOAS, University of London. Katrina has previously worked at the Independent Redress Mechanism of the Green Climate Fund. Her work at IEJ focuses on climate justice, addressing questions on the Just Transition, post-Covid recovery measures in light of climate change, and energy transitions in South Africa.

Email: katrina.lehmanngrube@iej.org.za

Gugulethu Makhubo is an accomplished professional with over 16 years experience in strategic marketing communications, stakeholder engagement and project management. She has long-standing experience working as a consultant and began her career in traditional marketing communications and transitioned into digital marketing, responding to shifting industry needs. She also has experience in African markets, specifically in international development and government relations as well as experience in both the South African and Australian corporate environments. She has a Bachelors degree in Strategic Communications from the University of Johannesburg and a Post-diploma in Management from Wits Business School.

Her passion is using development communications to contribute to the development and empowerment of communities, across the continent.

Email: gugulethu.makhubo@iej.org.za

Julia Taylor is Researcher and Climate Policy Lead at the Institute for Economic Justice. Addressing inequality and creating a more just and sustainable world are her areas of interest. Julia’s prior work has involved managing research and tracking impact within Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator, consulting on sustainable agriculture projects, and eco-education. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Cape Town in Politics, Philosophy and Economics, a Postgraduate Diploma in Sustainable Development from Stellenbosch University’s Sustainability Institute, and a Masters in Environment and Development from Edinburgh University. Julia is also currently completing a Masters in Applied Development Economics through Wits University. 

Email: julia.taylor@iej.org.za

Carilee Osborne is a Researcher at the IEJ. She holds an undergraduate degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics and a Masters degree in Justice and Transformation from the University of Cape Town. Carilee previously worked at the Institute for African Alternatives where she researched the political economy of mining in Africa and was the Assistant Editor of their journal, New Agenda. Prior to that she also worked on a project five SADC parliaments to strengthen their role in and oversight of the National Budget and lectured at UCT. Her current research focuses on the role of evidence in creating just taxation policies in Africa and the intersection of Human Rights and Economics. She is passionate about Rethinking Economics and Climate Justice.

Email: carilee.osborne@iej.org.za

Pamela Choga is a Project Manager at the IEJ. She has been in the civil society space, previously working at SECTION27 as a legal researcher. Here she specialised in education rights, advocacy, and campaigns for vulnerable learners. Pamela holds a LLB degree and Master of Laws in International Economic Law, both from Wits University. She joined the IEJ in February 2019 and has since then been working on the Finance and Human Rights project which brings together stakeholders in discussion on how a human rights framework can help to evaluate the nature and functioning of the financial system and just economy. She also has been involved in the Minimum Wage project, reviewing minimum wages in African countries.

Email: pamela.choga@iej.org.za

Directions and parking IEJ office

Tamara Paremoer is the divisional manager of mergers and acquisitions at the Competition Commission. She holds a Masters in Economics from the University of the Witwatersrand. Tamara has held senior positions at the Competition Commission and the Centre for Competition, Regulation, and Economic Development. She recently worked as an economist in the office of the President’s special economic adviser. Tamara was part of the founding reference group of the IEJ.

Sonia Phalatse is a Researcher at the IEJ. She holds a undergraduate degree in Economics and Finance from the University of Cape Town and a Master’s degree in Economics from Wits University. Sonia has previously worked for CIVICUS and the World Bank in her capacity as an economic consultant. Her current research focus is on the role of the developmental state and state-owned enterprises in South Africa, with a particular focus on Eskom. Her other research areas include feminist economics and private financing for development objectives. She is an activist and fierce feminist!

Email: sonia.phalatse@iej.org.za

Bandile Ngidi is the Project Co-ordinator for the Rethinking Economics project at the IEJ. 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.

Email: bandile.ngidi@iej.org.za

Busi Sibeko is a Researcher at the IEJ. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Duke University and a Masters in the Political Economy of Development from SOAS, University of London. Busi’s current research focus is macroeconomic policy, including tax justice, fiscal and monetary policy, and participatory budgeting to advance socio-economic rights. She also provides research support to the labour constituency. She is currently exploring feminist political economy and is determined to be a part of unwinding structural injustice.

Email: busi.sibeko@iej.org.za

Michelle Van Roy is the Office Manager at the IEJ. Michelle started her career in the procurement arena for an industrial contract caterer, but her artistic flair soon led her to the marketing side of the business where she handled the vendor canteen promotions nationally. She has worked in human resources at international NGOs, including ActionAid and World Vision. In 2012 she took up an operational role at Wits University for the School of Economic and Business Sciences. Michelle holds qualifications in Human Resource Management and Office Management. Michelle joined the IEJ in February 2019.

Email: michelle.vanroy@iej.org.za

Gilad Isaacs is a Co-Director at the IEJ. He is also an economist at Wits University, where he coordinates the National Minimum Wage Research Initiative, and lectures. Gilad has a Ph.D. and Masters in Economics from SOAS University of London, and a Masters in Political Economy from New York University. He has worked as a consultant for the United Nations’ International Labour Organization (ILO) and Global Labour University. He has a background in civil society activism working for the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) and founding the Social Justice Coalition (SJC). His research expertise are in financialisation, macroeconomics, and labour markets.

Email: gilad.isaacs@iej.org.za