ONE of the anti-apartheid heroes of the South African social revolution takes up a new role at York St John College.

Professor David Maughan Brown, formerly acting vice-chancellor at the University of Natal in Pietermaritzburg, becomes the college's director of strategy and corporate planning.

In his new role he will also deputise for the principal, Professor Dianne Willcocks.

In his 32 years in Natal, Prof Maughan Brown fought and ultimately won the battle to allow black students to predominate over minority population whites rather than the other way round.

His struggle to increase the number of students there from socially-excluded areas five-fold, and his political activism in the turbulent years before the end of apartheid and the introduction of majority rule put him at great risk.

He faced up to violent white student protests, spoke at memorial services of assassinated staff members, and wrote and spoke in support of the African National Congress - thereby risking a minimum five years prison sentence.

He first joined the University of Natal as a lecturer and rose to become senior deputy vice-chancellor to 2,500 staff and 25,000 students, and finally acting vice-chancellor.

He said: "Much of my past experience has been in planning for change and the management of change. The particular attraction of York St John is in the bold moves it has made and is making, the dramatic changes occurring and the great potential the college is showing."

Updated: 10:15 Tuesday, November 05, 2002