By all accounts the 2015 Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture, delivered by Thomas Piketty, was a success. The Lecture was hosted in collaboration with the University of Johannesburg.

The lecture was broadcast live in South Africa and to more than 50 African countries, including several universities around the world.

In addition to the Lecture, the Foundation also hosted a social partner dialogue with Piketty involving representatives from business and labour, a youth dialogue with students from the University of Johannesburg and an academic dialogue with the University of the Witwatersrand.

Media coverage was good, resulting in popular discourses by ordinary South Africans on issues of poverty and inequality. There were many news reports, analysis and opinion pieces published as a result of the Lecture.

Piketty’s discussion about a wealth tax and a minimum wage gained particular traction in the press as well as through other dialogues.