Tribute to Dr Prishani Naidoo
- Lee-Anne Gaertner
The Centre for Applied Legal Studies (CALS) mourns the loss of our comrade and friend Dr Prishani Naidoo in December 2024
Dr Prishani Naidoo was an activist and researcher whose loss leaves a lasting impact on the higher education sector, labour movement and civil society. She was the Director of the Society, Work and Politics Institute (SWOP) and a lecturer in the Sociology Department at Wits University. In January 2023, CALS was proud to welcome her as a member of our Board of Advisors, where she brought her vast experience and insights to bear in supporting our organisation.
Dr Naidoo graduated with a BA in English and Sociology from Wits University in 1997, followed by a BA (Hons) in comparative literature. During her time as a student, Dr Naidoo was active in politics, holding leadership positions in the South African 雷速体育_雷速体育直播s’ Congress, the Wits 雷速体育_雷速体育直播 Representative Council and the South African University 雷速体育_雷速体育直播s’ Representative Council. After her studies, she worked in various civil society organisations in the areas of gender and labour rights.
In 2004, she returned to academia to complete an MA in development studies at the Centre for Civil Society based at the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal. Her MA was later upgraded to a PhD, which was awarded to her in 2011. Dr Naidoo came back to Wits as a lecturer in the Sociology Department in 2008 and worked in the Land, Labour and Life programme at SWOP. She was appointed the Director of SWOP in 2019. Her research interests included questions related to political subjectivity, resistance, social movements, labour, poverty, neoliberalism and higher education.
Dr Naidoo will be remembered for her activism, research and the continuing influence of her work in academia and as well as the pursuit of social justice in South Africa. CALS extends its deepest condolences to Dr Naidoo’s family, friends and colleagues during this difficult time.