Steven Eli Friedman is a South African academic, newspaper columnist, widely quoted public intellectual, activist, former trade unionist and journalist. He directs the Centre for the Study of Democracy at both Rhodes University and the University of Johannesburg. His book Building Tomorrow Today: African Workers in Trade Unions 1970-1984 has been described as a classic South African text. He has written regular opinion pieces for Thought Leader and The New Age and currently writes a weekly column for Business Day. He is also a strong supporter of rights for Palestinians and a proponent of a one state solution in Israel and Palestine. He was appointed the National Head of the Independent Electoral Commission's Information Analysis Department during preparations for South Africa's 1994 election. He is the father of Daniel Friedman, a musical comedian known on stage as Deep Fried Man. 

March 31st, 1953 in (Age 71)