Nedbank and Old Mutual yesterday announced the finalists of the 54th Nedbank and Old Mutual Budget Speech Competition. The finalists comprise ten undergraduates and ten postgraduate students from universities across South Africa.
These finalists, representing top academic institutions from across the country, were selected through a rigorous adjudication process. This was done through a panel of academics, economists and representatives of the sponsors and public-sector stakeholders. The essays submitted this year responded to the following topics:
- Undergraduate category: ‘Trade protectionism in the form of higher import tariffs to stimulate job creation in developing economies, with a particular focus on South Africa.’
- Postgraduate category: ‘Inflation targeting in South Africa: evaluate the optimal lower target, implementation timing, and international comparisons.’
Finalists are contending for the following cash awards in each category:
| Category | First prize | Second prize | Third prize |
| Undergraduate | R60 000 | R40 000 | R20 000 |
| Postgraduate | R150 000 | R100 000 | R50 000 |
Jurie Strydom, Chief Executive Officer of Old Mutual South Africa, says the calibre of this year’s finalists is truly outstanding and inspires strong optimism about their potential contributions to future socio-economic policy discussions.
“We are proud to continue supporting a competition that challenges young South Africans to engage critically with real economic issues. The finalists have demonstrated exceptional analytical ability, academic depth, and a clear commitment to contributing meaningfully to the country’s economic future,” Strydom said.
Nedbank Chief Executive, Jason Quinn, commended the finalists, saying they represented the best and the brightest of their generation. “Nedbank’s long-standing support of the Budget Speech Competition is grounded in our belief that investing in future generations serves to secure a sustainable and prosperous future for society at large,” said Quinn.
“The intellectual rigour displayed in this year’s submissions underscores our conviction that nurturing engagement with issues of public policy, supports a stable and vibrant democracy. An engaged citizenry is an essential component, and the finalists of this year’s competition represent the very best in this regard.”
The finalists will be invited to Cape Town next month to participate in the official final round, which includes panel interviews and culminates in a gala dinner timed with the Budget Speech. The winners will be announced that evening.
Image: Old Mutual.
