Harilall Prabhoo Singh, a centenarian from Durban, celebrated his 100th birthday on November 7 surrounded by family and friends. About 260 guests gathered at Sunford Primary School hall in Phoenix to mark the milestone. Singh believes the secret to his longevity is simple: live by the motto, "Do good, be good". Born in 1926 in Illovo, on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast, Singh has witnessed a century of change.
Singh grew up in a hardworking family in a sugar estate workers' barracks. His paternal grandparents had come to South Africa from India and settled in Illovo, where they worked as labourers. His father worked for the Illovo Sugar Estate, driving locomotives that transported sugar cane to the mill, while his mother was a housewife. Singh is the eldest of 16 children and recalled a childhood filled with hard work and responsibility.
One of the biggest influences in Singh's life was his maternal grandmother, whom he remembered as a strong and hardworking woman. She taught him that nothing worthwhile comes without effort, and that hard work, honesty, and discipline matter. A childhood incident involving his maternal grandmother also left him with a lesson he would carry throughout his life. The experience taught him that hard work is not simply about earning money, but about earning it honestly.
Despite his responsibilities at home, Singh also found time for sport, with soccer being his favourite. He played as a left winger for his school team, which he said won most of its matches. He continued playing after leaving school, joining the Illovo Soccer Federation, known as Hang India, where he participated in five-a-side matches. Singh also pursued his education, travelling by train to Isipingo to further his studies.
After completing Standard six, Singh decided it was time to enter the working world. At 16, he started working in the guitar department at Gallo's, a Durban-based music and sports factory, where he spent eight years helping manufacture guitars. However, Singh soon realised that he wanted to acquire a trade that would give him greater independence. He approached his manager and explained that he wanted to leave to learn a trade.
Singh began approaching builders in search of work and eventually established his own plumbing business, which he operated until retiring at 60. The business was passed on to one of his sons and has since been taken to even greater heights by his grandson. Today, it has more than 20 vehicles on the road and employs about 60 people. Singh is proud that the name is carrying on.
Singh married Kalawathi Rajbansi in 1960 and had four children: Pradeep, 65; Ashwin, 63; Shanitha Deeplal, 60; and Sheila Ramkisson, 59. He is also a proud grandfather of seven. The family settled in Mobeni Heights, where Singh bought land and built a home. His wife passed away in 2020 due to Covid-19. Singh's family and friends gathered to celebrate his remarkable life and milestone birthday.
Key points
- Harilall Prabhoo Singh celebrated his 100th birthday on November 7 surrounded by family and friends.
- Singh's secret to longevity is living by the motto "Do good, be good".
- His plumbing business, established over 60 years ago, continues to thrive under his grandson's management.
