Johann van Tonder is an independent economist and researcher

He qualified as an economist at the University of the Free State in 1986. Thereafter he gained a wealth of experience stretching over a period of more than 30 years. In this time, he worked among others at the national treasury; as an economics journalist; at an asset management firm; consulting to the Bureau of Market Research at Unisa, before joining Momentum in 2016. He is currently a consulting economist.

Some of his accomplishments include the establishment of a multi-political party economics committee in 1993 which ensured a smooth transition in 1994; introducing new economic policies including the Medium-Term Budget; being part of the team which negotiated South Africa’s re-integration into the international financial system. In 2009 he played a pivotal role to prevent Eskom from implementing an increase of 42% per year for three years in electricity tariffs.

His current research focuses on how changes in the economy affect the distribution of household finances according to demographic variables such as income, wealth, age, education status, etc.