The Legacy of Sunny Singh: A Revolutionary Not Afraid of Speaking Truth to Power

Dr. Michael Sutcliffe

Of all the leaders I have met who sacrificed their lives for our democracy, Sunny Singh probably ranks highest when it comes to speaking truth to power.  Growing up in a working-class family and serving in many structures of the liberation movement, he selflessly spoke out against any allegations of corruption and racism.  

A few weeks ago, we gathered to remember ANC President OR Tambo in the Monty Naicker Foundation museum at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.  As was always the case, Sunny was there reflecting on OR and his Legacy.  He was there when Yunus Carrim launched his brilliant book “Attacking the heart of apartheid,” which brings to life many of our heroes and the sacrifices they made and continue to make.

And before that, when the Deputy President of the Veterans League, Mavuso Msimang, addressed us, Sunny was again there to provide simple but critical reflections.  These few examples are stated because these engagements were not easy for him, as he was not well in body, but he remained amazing in spirit and intellect.  

Sunny touched so many people, from people whose main struggle was to get food on their table, to young people, to activists working in civics, to those who served with Sunny on Robben Island, to those who were with him in exile, to the great international community who have always supported us in our struggle for democracy, and those who have met and worked with him when returning to South Africa post-1994.

 He never wavered in taking on his own colleagues and comrades in the liberation movement when he felt they had erred.  Whether it was raising concerns around the running of the Robben Island Museum, where he served as a Board member until resigning in 2009, or speaking out against those who have used their leadership positions to advance corruption and the capture of state institutions.

Sunny spoke simply, using anecdotes, to make his point. Like most black South Africans, his education under apartheid had been incredibly challenging, but his prison term in Robben Island turned him into an incredibly well-read and knowledgeable person.  Whilst in prison, he played a major role in keeping his fellow political prisoners well informed on news and other information.  

He was one of the first group of cadres joining Umkhonto weSizwe (MK) in 1962. He was with Madiba the night before our first democratically elected President was arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment in Robben Island.  However, after a year, Sunny Singh was arrested in 1963, and sentenced to ten years on Robben Island, where he committed himself to political education and self-study.  Sunny continued to operate in the armed struggle after his release from prison.

On his release, Sunny was placed under house arrest, but he did not act as if he was in prison, and immediately took up his work with building trades unions, civics, and the underground.  He went into exile in 1976 and had many leadership roles in MK, supporting the ANC’s operations across southern Africa and inside the country.

After returning to South Africa in 1991, he continued his work in the transition to democracy and then in government, "retiring” in 2008 after serving in SAPS Crime Intelligence.  Sadly, given what we hear and read about the current operations of Crime Intelligence, one can only surmise that it is due in part to having lost persons of the integrity and calibre of Sunny Singh.

At his side for decades has been an outstanding civic activist in her own right, Urmilla. At times like this, the loss of Sunny Singh brings home the amazing support and love Urmilla gave to both Sunny and our democracy for decades.  As Sunny’s loving partner, she helped him regain what should always have been his rightful place as our leader and helped him teach and mentor all of us. 

Thank you, Sunny, for what you have selflessly done for our country, Africa, and the world at large.  You stood as a giant amongst us, much more important, I feel, than many who have sought:

• office (and money) over the needs of the people, 
• promises rather than development, and
• populist rhetoric over love for us all over.  

Sunny remains in all of us, and thank you, Urmilla, family, and friends, for giving him the love he needed.

* Dr Michael Sutcliffe is a Director of City Insights (Pty) Ltd.

** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL, Independent Media or The African.