Prof. Sakhela Buhlungu

Professor of Sociology, University of Johannesburg 
BA (Hons) (UCT), MA, PhD (Wits)

Prior to joining SWOP as a researcher in 1994, Sakhela Buhlungu worked in the unions and in labour-supporting organisations. He has done research and written widely on the changing nature of trade unionism in South Africa, union movements' political engagement, industrial relations and the 'new' social movements. His latest publications include Trade Unions and Democracy: COSATU Workers' Political Attitudes in South Africa (ed.) (HSRC Press, 2006) and The State of the Nation: South Africa 2005 - 2006 (ed. with J. Daniel, R. Southall and J. Lutchman (HSRC, 2006). He was on the editorial board of the South Africa Labour Bulletin for eight years (until 2001) and currently serves on the editorial boards of academic journals, Labor History and the South African Review of Sociology, as well as the governing board of the National Labour, Economic and Development Institute (NALEDI). Since 2002 he has served on the board and edited the regular Newsletter of the Research Committee on Labour Movements of the International Sociological Association (ISA) and is now Secretary of the Committee. He has supervised many post-graduate students and has been involved in the SWOP internship programme since its inception.