Duma Gqubule is a respected South African economist, author, researcher and economic commentator with more than two decades of experience examining South Africa’s economy, economic development and transformation. His work focuses particularly on economic growth, employment, inequality, fiscal and monetary policy, industrialisation and Black Economic Empowerment.
Educated at Waterford Kamhlaba in Eswatini and the University of Aberdeen in Scotland, where he studied economics, Duma began his career as a financial journalist. He worked across several of South Africa’s leading business publications, including Business Day, Business Report, Financial Mail and Finance Week, while his work also appeared in international publications.
Economic Transformation
A significant part of Duma’s career has centred on South Africa’s economic transformation agenda. He worked with the Black Economic Empowerment Commission, chaired by Cyril Ramaphosa, and was a co-author of its landmark 2002 report, which contributed to the development of South Africa’s subsequent BEE policy framework.
He has also worked with organisations across the public and private sectors, including the NEPAD Secretariat, where he contributed to the development of indicators for the African Peer Review Mechanism. His research has covered mining-sector transformation, governance, industrial development and broader questions of economic inclusion.
Duma is the founding director of the Centre for Economic Development and Transformation (CEDT) and has also been associated with the Social Policy Initiative as a research associate.
Author & Economic Commentator
As an author and commentator, Duma is known for challenging conventional economic thinking and advocating for policies capable of generating higher economic growth, employment and greater economic inclusion.
He edited Making Mistakes, Righting Wrongs: Insights into Black Economic Empowerment and has produced extensive research on economic transformation and social policy. More recently, his work has examined the economics of a Universal Basic Income, economic stimulus, monetary policy and alternative approaches to South Africa’s unemployment and growth challenges.
He remains an active voice in South Africa’s economic debate. In 2025 he participated in a South African Human Rights Commission discussion on the political economy, arguing for a stronger relationship between economic policy, employment and socio-economic rights.
Speaker & Panellist
Duma is particularly effective as a keynote speaker, economic commentator and senior-level panellist when organisations want a perspective that challenges mainstream economic assumptions. His presentations can address the structural issues behind South Africa’s persistent challenges while considering what needs to change to deliver meaningful growth and transformation.
Speaking Topics: South African Economy • Africa’s Economic Future • Economic Transformation • B-BBEE • Employment & Unemployment • Inclusive Growth • Fiscal & Monetary Policy • Industrialisation • Inequality • Economic Policy • Future of South Africa
Ideal for: Economic Conferences • Leadership Events • CEO Forums • Transformation Conferences • Panel Discussions • Financial Services Events • Africa Growth Forums • Government & Policy Discussions
For the Africa’s Growth & Transformation programme you are developing, Duma would be a strong panellist because he brings a different economic perspective from speakers such as Dr Martyn Davies or Dr Adrian Saville. That contrast could create a much more substantive debate around what has worked, what has failed and what South Africa and Africa need to do differently over the next decade.
