Sumarie Swanepoel, senior lecturer in the Department of Taxation at the University of Pretoria, participated as a panellist at the 2025 Post-Budget Review Conversation, hosted by the Young Leaders Connect IDEAL Conversations and the International Women’s Forum of South Africa, Women’s Leadership Programme Alumni.

 

The event, held online on 18 March 2025 under the theme ‘Harnessing Collective Power for Sustainable Growth: Advancing Women’s Economic Inclusion’, brought together influential leaders, industry experts and change-makers for an in-depth discussion on South Africa’s post-budget fiscal landscape and its broader economic and policy implications for women.

 

Swanepoel, whose PhD research explores gender bias in South Africa’s direct income tax legislation, brought a unique perspective to the conversation, highlighting the need for fairer and more inclusive tax policies.

 

During the discussion, she provided critical insights on the following:

The 2025 Post-Budget Review Conversation served as a crucial platform for addressing the intersection of fiscal policy, gender equity and economic inclusion in South Africa. By bringing together experts like Swanepoel and her fellow panellists Batandwa Damoyi, the CFO of the Public Investment Corporation, and Mmakgantse Mmereki, an academic from UNISA, the event facilitated a comprehensive examination of the budget's implications for women's economic empowerment. The discussion highlighted critical areas of concern, including the VAT increase, personal income tax tables, and the unpaid care economy, emphasising the need for gender-responsive fiscal policies.

 

This conversation underscores the importance of collective action and informed dialogue in shaping a more inclusive economic landscape. As South Africa moves forward, the insights shared during this event can serve as a foundation for developing targeted interventions and policy reforms that not only address current inequalities but also pave the way for sustainable, gender-inclusive economic growth. The continued engagement of diverse stakeholders in such discussions is essential for translating these insights into actionable policies that can truly harness collective power for the advancement of women's economic inclusion.