Born in 1942, Edward Charles Webster devoted his life to understanding and defending the rights of workers in South Africa. His academic journey began at Rhodes University and he studied at Oxford University and York University.
He completed his PhD at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), where he later became emeritus professor. He was also the founder of. Institute for Society, Work and Development (Swop) At Wits.
Edward Webster was a colleague and friend of the late Rick Turner and his partner Fozia Turner Styrianou at the University of Natal (Durban) in the early 1970s. They founded the Institute of Industrial Education and the South African Labor Bulletin. In December 1975, Eddie was arrested under the Suppression of Communism Act, and a year later he was acquitted of charges, among other things, for calling for the release of Nelson Mandela.
He is a Distinguished Research Professor at the Center for the Study of Southern Inequality and founder and former director of the Institute of Social, Labor and Political Studies (SWOP) at the University of the Witwatersrand. He is the author of his 7 books and his more than 120 academic papers. He was a Senior Fulbright Scholar at the University of Wisconsin (Madison) and the inaugural Ela Butt Professor at the International Center for International Development and Decent Work (ICDD) at the University of Kassel, Germany. His co-authored book, Grounding Globalization: Labor in the Age of Insecurity, won the American Sociological Association Award for best academic paper on labor.
Webster's influence on South African academia is undeniable and he is widely regarded as a pioneer in the sociology of labor in the country. his original work, fit into a racial moldremains a foundational text analyzing the complex relationship between labor processes and the development of the South African labor movement.
He passed away on Tuesday, March 5th at the age of 81.
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Beyond his scholarship, he was a passionate advocate for social justice.Webster actively participated South African Sociological Society He also co-founded the South African Labor Report, a platform for critical analysis of labor issues.
talk to daily maverick Tuesday, sociologist and professor at Wits University carl von holt described the late Webster as “actually an extraordinary force in the field of sociology.'' He was one of the main founders of industrial sociology in South Africa. ”
“He was always an institution builder,” von Holt said. “Although he was already effectively of pension age, he basically founded two other institutions: the Chris Hani Institute, based in Cosatu, and the Southern Federation in 2016. Center for Equality Research. Wits. He had an incredible energy for building institutions and engaging others with his energy and vision.”
But his dedication went far beyond academia to actively engage with policymakers and trade unions, bridging the gap between research and real-world application. The Human Sciences Research Council said of Webster: “He is recognized for having influenced several generations of sociology students at Wits University, transforming the university's sociology curriculum and producing a new generation of black sociologists. “There is,” he said.
#cosatu My heartfelt condolences to the professor's family. #Eddie Webster, passed away today. The professor taught labor studies to many workers at Global Labor University. May his soul rest in peace 🙏 @GlobalLabourCol @GlobalLabour @ILOACTRAV @ILOAfrica #HambakarEddieWebster pic.twitter.com/snqHu6NLsv
— @COSATU Today (@_cosatu) March 5, 2024
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In 2019, Webster became the first recipient of the South African Sociological Society Lifetime Award.
The author of seven books and more than 120 scholarly articles, Webster's contributions have been internationally recognized, including receiving the prestigious American Sociological Association Award for his work. The entrenchment of globalization: Labor in times of instability.
Professor Webster left a legacy of intellectual rigor and a deep and abiding commitment to social justice. He is survived by his wife Luli Callinikos, children and grandchildren. DM