Trevor Ngwane

Trevor Ngwane was born in Lamontville, Durban, South Africa. He grew up in Nquthu, Zululand, in the Natal Midlands. He attended school first at Bhekaphambili Primary School in Lamontville and then Cassion Combined School in Nquthu. He then became a boarder at Mariannhill High School (St Francis College) in Pinetown near Durban. He went to the University of Fort Hare in 1979 spending four years there but could not complete his studies due to 'student disturbances'. He completed his studies by correspondence with the University of South Africa, later studying full-time at Wits University for an Honours in Sociology degree. He later studied at the Univeristy of KwaZulu-Natal where he obtained his MA in Development Studies and then at the University where he obtained a PhD in Sociology.

He has a long history of activism in various civil society organisations including the trade unions, political formations and community organisations. At Wits University he helped found the Wits Workers School which provided formal and political education to cleaners, gardners, security and other auxiliary staff at the university. He also lectured Sociology at this university. He left to become national education officer for the Transport and General Workers Union, a Congress of South African Trade Unions affiliate. He left the union and later was elected a ward councillor in his area in Pimville, Soweto, representing the people of Zones 5 and 7 on an African National Congress ticket. He was also active in the South African National Civic Organisation. He left his position as councillor and helped form the Soweto Electricity Crisis Committee and the Anti-Privatisation Forum. These 'new social movements' were fighting for access to basic services including defending municipal jobs which were being lost due to government's policy of privatisation.

Today Trevor works as a senior lecturer at the University of Johannesburg. He continues his activism as chairperson of the United Front, an umbrella body seeking to unite labour, community and youth struggles. He has co-edited (with Malehoko Tshoaedi) a book titled The Fourth Industrial Revolution: A Sociological Critique (2021) and written his book is Amakomiti: Grassroots Democracy in South African Shack Settlements (2021). He was the director of the Centre for Sociological Research and Practice from 2021 to 2023. He also served as the president of the South African Sociological Association in 2020-2021.

He is an eco-socialist, feminist and a member of the Socialist Group, a disciplined collective of Marxist activists. During his spare time he runs marathons and plays trumpet. Now and then he spends time with his five grandchildren.