PROF DEVAN PILLAY - HEAD: DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY AT WITS

Born East London 1959. Matriculated there 1977. Head boy. Became politically active at school especially in 1976. Active in SA Institute of Race Relations youth Programme Masazane. Met black consciousness and ANC activists there. UCT 1978, became aware of Marxism, active in student politics.Rhodes university 1980 to study journalismBecame active in student struggles, and ANC. Detained July 1980, on trial and sentenced to two years March 1981.Released in 1982 on appeal. Completed BA though Unisa but worked at SALDRU, UCT.Active in Azaso.Scholarship to study at York University, 1985-6.Transferred to Essex for PhD under Harold Wolpe, 1986-89.(Thesis trade unions and alliance politics in CT)SA Labour Bulletin staff writer 1990.Work In Progress managing editor 1991-2.Director, Social Policy MA Programme, UDW, 1993-6.Head of Research, NUM, 1997-9GCIS Director of Policy, 1999-2001Sociology Dept 2002 onwards (currently HOD).Part of Global Labour University network (with universities in Germany, India, Brazil and USA).Worker education with trade unionists from South Africa and the rest of the world.Currently completing a book on trade unions, alliances and the possibilities of an Eco-socialist, feminist working class politics.