Beit Bridge’s town secretary passes away

Beit Bridge Town secretary and renowned academic and businessman Dr Sipho Singo (56) has died.

The local authority’s director of housing and administration, Mr Mbongeleni Muleya, said Singo died in the Polokwane Provincial Hospital on Saturday evening. The cause of his death was heart failure. His condition deteriorated on Friday night and he was rushed to Musina Hospital on Saturday morning and he was referred to Polokwane Provincial Hospital, where he died on admission,” said Muleya.

A memorial service for Dr Singo will be held in Beit Bridge on Friday morning.

Muleya described Dr Singo as a man who had a strong passion for development in Beit Bridge. “His death is a sad loss for the council and residents of Beit Bridge. We have lost a fatherly figure, a great man who had a vision to transform the face of Beit Bridge into a modern city. During his tenure, he spearheaded a number of developmental projects, which were worth emulating by other town councils.”

Singo’s widow, Agnes, said the family had lost an inspirational man and a champion of development. “We are at loss of words. This is a big blow to us as a family. He was a hard worker and a very generous man who was instrumental in spearheading developmental projects in the district,” she said.

Dr Singo was born on March 28, 1958, in Beit Bridge in a family of ten children. He is survived by his wife and five-year-old daughter, Tendani.

Singo, a renowned academic and businessman, joined Beit Bridge Town council on 14 May 2009. He obtained a PhD in administration from the University of South Africa, a masters in adult education and an honours degree in politics and administration from the University of Zimbabwe.

Prior to joining the Beit Bridge Town Council, Singo was a lecturer at the Unisa School of Public Management and Administration between 2004 and 2006 and he also lectured politics at the University of Namibia between 1998 and 2004.

News - Date: 24 January 2014

Mashudu Netsianda

Mashudu Netsianda is our correspondent in Beit Bridge, Zimbabwe. He joined us in 2006, writing both local and international stories. He had worked for several Zimbabwean publications, as well as the Times of Swaziland. Mashudu received his training at the School of Mass Communication in Harare.

Email: