David Sanders, Emeritus Professor, was the founding Director of the School of Public Health, University of the Western Cape, South Africa; a founding member of the People's Health Movement (global and South Africa); Honorary Professor, Department Paediatrics and Child Health, University Cape Town. An internationally recognized academic, David managed to bridge the divide between academia, socialist politics and health activism. He was not afraid to speak truth to power in the pursuit of health justice, and inspired health care workers to see beyond curative care to the social and commercial determinants of health.