SALDRU researchers’ panels at the SA@30 conference on health, labour, social protection and higher education
Image: Participants at the opening plenary of the SA@30 conference. Credit: SALDRU.
The South Africa at 30 years of democracy conference took place at the beginning of April. As part of the programme, SALDRU researchers chaired or organised panel sessions reflecting on the development of key policy areas from 1994 to now. In this article, Brendan Maughan-Brown writes on the health policy session, Vimal Ranchhod writes on the labour policy session, Ariane De Lannoy writes on the youth unemployment and social protection sessions, and Murray Leibbrandt writes on the forward-looking plenary that happened on the final day of the conference.
Health policy session – Brendan Maughan-Brown
The Health Policy Session centred on a paper by Andrew Donaldson and Tamar Kahn: ‘Health Policy in South Africa From 1994 to now: Pathways to convergence between the public and private healthcare.’ The authors provided an overview of health policy in South Africa over the last 30 years and what immediate steps we should be focusing on in the next 5 years in order to navigate the complex implementation of the National Health Insurance (NHI). Reflections on the paper and the most important policy reforms to focus on were provided by four discussants: Professor Benjamin Smart (University of Johannesburg), Professor Susan Cleary (University of Cape Town), Dr Geetesh Solanki (University of Cape Town), and Dr Eleanor Whyle (University of Cape Town).
While the success of key reforms were noted – such as the expansion of primary healthcare and the rollout of antiretroviral therapy (ART) to combat HIV/AIDS - there was general consensus that a focus on the NHI has stalled health system reform over the past decade, with several well developed and important policies not being implemented. There was also general agreement that a transition to a single national health fund under the NHI is complex, risky and not feasible in its current form. It was argued that while the risks are high – in part from the NHI Act restricting the role of private medical schemes and therefore individual choice – the envisioned gains in health equality are not likely to be realised with the current policy.
The panellists stressed the importance of taking incremental steps – even small ones – to work towards several health policy reforms that would improve health provision in the near future, and to change the discourse around NHI to focus on practical reforms that lay the foundation for a future NHI system. Important policy reforms discussed included addressing issues of information asymmetry and expanding risk pooling in health insurance systems, which are vital for achieving more equitable healthcare outcomes. The importance of improving healthcare education and training and public healthcare governance was highlighted, along with the need to bridge the gap between private and public healthcare, strengthen private-public partnerships for future health reforms, and build trust in the government’s capacity to reform and manage healthcare effectively.
Labour policy session - Vimal Ranchhod
One of the sessions in our recent South Africa at 30 Years of Democracy Conference focused on labour markets and regulations. The session was chaired by Daniela Casale from Wits University, and the main presentation was based on a review paper co-authored by Vimal Ranchhod, Gabriel Espi-Sanchis, and Andrew Kerr from SALDRU. The paper presentation was followed by a panel discussion by Haroon Bhorat from the DPRU, Miracle Benhura from Wits, and Josh Budlender from SALDRU.
The main paper, which was funded by ERSA, investigated the key developments in the South African labour market since the end of apartheid. The authors use data spanning from 1993 to 2019 to estimate trends in employment, earnings, and educational attainment, and investigate how things have changed for groups defined by race and gender. They also summarise the key legal changes and policies that occurred over this period.
The key findings were that there was a sustained improvement in employment and earnings outcomes in the early 2000s and that this changed following the global financial crisis. When analysing the gaps in outcomes between men and women, there has been clear progress in the reduction of both employment and earnings gaps over time, although substantial gaps remain. In contrast, there has never been a meaningful reduction in the racial employment and earnings gaps. This is true despite substantial increases in educational attainment among African and Coloured people.
The econometric results suggest that this lack of convergence can be explained by two other developments. First, White people also increased their education levels, although in this group, the increases are mostly at the tertiary education level. Second, the rates of return to tertiary qualifications are very high and have increased over time. These two factors combine in the labour market and result in the very large and stable racial employment and earnings gaps.
The paper presentation was followed by commentary from each discussant. Haroon Bhorat posed provocative questions about why the informal sector and associated employment was so small, relative to other similar countries. Miracle Benhura responded to the paper and also highlighted some of the other work on gender in the SA labour market. Josh Budlender brought in the recent and growing labour market research that is emanating from the NT-SARS administrative data. This was followed by some questions from the audience, some further discussion, and a closing note of thanks from Daniela Casale.
Overall it was an excellent session that has stimulated lots of discussion, including conversations about data availability, quality, and accessibility. We expect this to be part of an ongoing process to support and encourage related research and policy dialogues.
Social protection sessions - Ariane De Lannoy
Two sessions on Social Protection were hosted as a collaboration between SALDRU and the Centre for Social Development in Africa (CSDA) at the University of Johannesburg. The first session, chaired by SALDRU’s Associate Professor Ariane De Lannoy, focused on South Africa’s social security coverage, with panellists Professor Leila Patel (CSDA, University of Johannesburg), Professor Stephen Devereux (Centre for Social Protection, Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex), Anthony Makwiramiti (Department for Social Development), and Dr Gemma Wright (Southern African Social Policy Research Insights). They reflected on the expansion of social grants over the past 30 years, the gaps in coverage, and the need for better integration of complementary support systems, while also discussing the Department of Social Development’s policy priorities for the next decade.
The second session, chaired by Professor Leila Patel, addressed the growing importance of linking social protection with economic opportunities for more comprehensive poverty reduction strategies. Panellists Aylin Isik-Dikmelik (WorldBank), Kathy Nicolau (Digital Innovation in the Public Sector Programme), Brendan Pearce (FinMark Trust), and Lauren Graham (CSDA, UJ) emphasised the limitations of fragmented systems and the urgent need for integrated, people-centred approaches, particularly for youth. Speakers highlighted the necessity of coordination across government levels and sectors, and for well-functioning referral systems, case management, and data interoperability. The panellists also noted that integration often starts with simplified local models that can expand through adaptation and learning.
The discussions underscored the need for a shared vision and collaboration among key departments, such as Social Development, Employment and Labour, and Higher Education and Training, supported by coherent funding and monitoring systems. Social protection must go beyond income support to include well-targeted wraparound services like psychosocial care and livelihood promotion. Presentations reflected on the pilot implementation of the Cash Plus Approach for Child Grant Recipients and The Basic Package of Support for young people not in Employment, Education or Training. The session concluded with key principles on integrating social protection with employment and education services, designing person-centred support, driving inter-institutional coordination, and leveraging local innovations for broader national impact.
Youth unemployment session – Ariane De Lannoy
SALDRU Chief Researcher Ariane De Lannoy hosted a panel session on Youth Unemployment at the South Africa at 30 Years of Democracy Conference on 4 April 2025. Panellists Tshego Walker (Presidential Youth Employment Intervention), Sanelisiwe Jantjies (Business Unity South Africa), Waseem Carrim (National Student Financial Aid Scheme; formerly National Youth Development Agency), and Mosuoe Sekonyela (Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator) represented national government, civil society, and the private sector. They were invited to reflect on the systemic factors driving persistently high youth unemployment in South Africa, and to share actionable solutions.
A central concern was the economy’s limited capacity to generate sufficient jobs for young people. The panel stressed the need to unlock opportunities in high-growth sectors such as the green economy, care industries, digital services, global business services, and tourism. Revitalising vocational education to better align with these sectors - and make it more accessible - was seen as urgent. Public-private partnerships were highlighted as key to scaling job creation, particularly through internships and apprenticeships. The informal sector was also identified as a vital but under-leveraged source of employment, constrained by high compliance costs and fragmented regulation. Walker further emphasised the importance of inclusive hiring practices to expand access to jobs for youth. The panel also reflected on the need for stronger, more integrated social protection systems to support young people’s transitions into work and entrepreneurship. In summation, coordinated public-private action, simplified regulation, and integrated, youth-centred reforms were seen as critical to building inclusive and sustainable pathways into economic participation for young people in South Africa.
South Africa 30 years from now – Murray Leibbrandt
The first two days of SA@30 involved a deep dive into the evidence on the state of contemporary South Africa and its options in the short term. This plenary session started a final day that was focussed on charting a way forward collectively. The session facilitated this transition by taking a longer-run view of South Africa and of our place on the continent and in the world. By 2054 the country must achieve several critical long-term economic development priorities to ensure sustained and sustainable growth, inclusivity, and prosperity. The session opened the discussion of what these are and how they should be undertaken. The discussion was led by three panellists: Andrew Dabalen, the World Bank’s chief economist for Africa; Iqbal Dhaliwal, the global executive director of J-PAL; and Trevor Manuel, the chairperson and independent non-executive director of Old Mutual.
Andrew Dabalen begun by speaking to the longer-run scenarios that South Africa will have to confront in striving for inclusive development. He emphasised the necessity and cumulative transformative potential of long-run economic growth as a dynamic process that will enable and also leverage the full productivity and innovation of all South Africans. To achieve such growth requires a policy agenda dominated by a narrow focus on the physical, community and human capital that will enable all in South Africa to realise their full potential and contribute their best.
Iqbal Dhaliwal followed by sketching the global and African labour market, together with the demographic and technological possibilities and challenges that will be the context for the next 30 years. He extended Andrew Dabalen’s argument that these will require skilled and innovative populations and policy communities. There is a solid platform of evidence on human capital and labour market policy options and on effective policy implementation to know what needs to be done, and how.
Trevor Manuel closed the panel presentations by bringing us back to the seismic global changes that were the unfolding context to the conference, including our three days together. The established global institutional order was fracturing before our eyes. This brings far too much uncertainty in looking forward to make it sensible to engage in business-as-usual, formulaic longer-run planning. There is an immediate need for a focused, collective response from all in South Africa and our continent to weather this moment of fundamental change. At the same time, these reconfigurations demand proactive and innovative crafting of our own collective futures. The first two panellists made it clear that putting in place programmes and policies that enable individuals to be responsive and proactive in confronting their circumstances has to be a foundation stone of any such national and continental collective effort.
