Baneng is a prominent South African economist, author, and public commentator whose work spans academia, public policy, and social impact. He holds a master’s degree in Economics from the University of the Witwatersrand. His research focuses on financial inclusion, women’s empowerment, and tax reform, and his scholarly work has been widely published in leading international journals.
Throughout his career, Baneng has worked with several high-profile institutions, including the World Bank, DNA Economics, the Competition Commission, the National Treasury, and the Competition Tribunal of South Africa.
Among his many accolades, Baneng won the prestigious Nedbank and Old Mutual Budget Speech Competition in 2019 and was recognised as one of South Africa’s Top 100 Future Leaders. In 2023, he was named among the 30 Most Influential Young Economists in Sub-Saharan Africa by the Institute of Certified Chartered Economists and was subsequently featured in the Mail & Guardian’s 200 Young South Africans list.
As a respected public commentator, Baneng contributes to economic discourse through opinion writing, media commentary, and policy engagement. He provides expert analysis on various platforms, including Thobela FM, Radio Turf, Energy FM, Power FM, Sowetan, and Polokwane Observer.
In addition, he participates in national and international policy forums, such as the World Youth Forum and various Post-Budget Dialogues, as a guest speaker and panellist. Furthermore, he has appeared on prominent television programs such as Morning Live and Expresso.
Alongside his professional work, Baneng is deeply committed to social impact and philanthropy. He has volunteered with organisations such as the International Youth Society, Global Peace Chains, and the World Literacy Foundation.
Baneng dedicates most of his time to the Baneng Naape Foundation, an initiative focused on empowering youth and enhancing financial and technical support for rural communities.
– June 2025 –
