Economy is Care: So, whose economy is it anyway?

Every price increase, budget speech, and policy promise tell a story about power: who holds it, who’s excluded, and what must change to build a system rooted in wellbeing and care.

In this final gathering of the Economy is Care series, host Matshidiso Lencoasa, a public finance analyst and Chairperson of the Budget Justice Coalition, brings her sharp analysis and grounded expertise in fiscal justice to the biggest question of them all. Joined by our previous hosts of the dialogues, she leads us in reflecting on what we’ve learned, what still feels contested, and what kind of future we dare to build next.

Together, we’ll trace South Africa’s long economic journey from extraction and exclusion to the possibility of shared prosperity and ask what a people-centred economy might look like in practice: one that serves township households, young job seekers and climate-vulnerable communities alike.

Expect not only sharp analysis but also sound, art and story. Because Economy is Care is never just a panel, it’s a space to think, feel, and imagine together.

There will be live music, a closing reflection, food, and family-friendly creative activations to mark the end of this five-part journey. Bring your kids, your questions, and your curiosity.