SALDRU and DataFirst warmly invite you to join us for the 4th Annual Francis Wilson Memorial Lecture.
We are delighted to announce that this year’s lecture will be delivered by Professor Sakhela Buhlungu, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Fort Hare.
Professor Buhlungu previously served as Dean of the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Cape Town and Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Pretoria. He is the author of A Paradox of Victory: Unions and the democratic transformation of South Africa (2010, University of KwaZulu-Natal Press) and editor of COSATU's Contested Legacy: South African Trade Unions in the second decade of democracy (2012, HSRC Press & Brill, with Malehoko Tshoaedi) and Trade Unions and Democracy: COSATU Workers' Political Attitudes in South Africa (2006, HSRC Press).
We look forward to welcoming you to this special annual event as we come together to honour the life and legacy of Professor Francis Wilson.
About Francis Wilson
Francis Wilson, founding Director of SALDRU and DataFirst, was one of South Africa's leading economic researchers. His work, driven by a strong social conscience, highlighted the hardship and poverty created by the migrant labour system and the mining industry. He spearheaded the first nationally representative survey of South Africa and was a committed advocate for open data.
Date: Thursday, 15 October 2026
Venue: Kramer Law Building, Middle Campus, Rondebosch
Time: 5.30pm for 6pm, the lecture will be followed by refreshments
You are invited to register for this in-person event using this LINK or scanning the QR code below.
