By surname

Martin Plaut was born in South Africa in May 1950, and received his first degree in Social Science from the University of Cape Town, and an Honours degree in Industrial Relations from the University of the Witwatersrand, before going on to do an MA at the University of Warwick.

In 1978 he worked for a year as an Industrial Relations adviser to Mobil Oil before joining the British Labour Party as adviser on Africa and the Middle East. In 1984 he joined the BBC, working primarily on Africa. He is currently Africa Editor, BBC World Service News. He has reported from most of East Africa, as well as some parts of West Africa, and specialises in the Horn of Africa and Southern Africa. He is currently Africa editor, BBC World Service News.

For two years he was an Associate Fellow of the Royal Institute of International Affairs, leading their Africa research programme and continues to be an active member. He is the author of Who Rules South Africa? published by Jonathan Ball Publishers.