Grandparents valued hard work and education

BONI Jaldhari Singh (Dada), born in 1919, was a passenger transport pioneer in Umzinto.

He worked as a petrol attendant but his entrepreneurial spirit, even during the trying apartheid era, could not be suppressed.

He purchased his own taxis and established Boni’s Bus Service, which operated a fleet servicing the greater South Coast area.

Dada was a visionary and began the process of transformation in the passenger transport industry.

In order to empower the community, Dada assisted economically excluded businessmen to purchase taxis and begin their own companies.

His passengers fondly remember him as a man who was immaculately dressed and always willing to lend a hand in community-based initiatives.

One particular memory is that he would send his buses, at no charge, to fetch people from underprivileged communities to Umzinto on Diwali. They would then be treated to a meal and leave in a cheerful spirit, embodying the essence of Diwali.

Dada married Soomithara Singh (Ma) and had 11 children.

Ma was instrumental in Dada’s success as she ensured that the Singh family home was filled with love for each other and God, hospitality and warmth.

Dada and Ma passed away on September 2, 1975, and September 2, 2012, respectively, and this Pitra Paksha we give our gratitude for their meaningful contributions to our family and society.

They valued their loved ones, hard work and education. We live our own lives by these values and hope to continue their legacy for many more generations.