Love everlasting for 60 years

THIS was by far no love at first sight; it was an arranged marriage by their parents at the tender age of 19.

But this love story far exceeds modern day fairy tales, for this month Empangeni couple Sally (79) and Tommy (84) Singh are celebrating 60 years of marriage.

Chatting to the ‘old’ love birds one thing was certain, they grew to love each other.

Both born and raised in Zululand, Sally and Tommy were introduced to each other by their parents in 1954 when Sally was only 18 and Tommy 23. Both faced with an arranged marriage, they tied the knot in Stanger in 1956.

Tommy was working at the mill in Felixton at the time and Sally was unemployed. They moved into their new home in Felixton together and wasted no time before having their first of nine of children.

‘I only began working after my last child was born,’ said Sally.

‘I worked in sales at a local shop in Empangeni.’

Between the 80s and 90s Tommy was on the housing council board responsible for Brackenham coming into being. He was a part of Zululand Indian Workers Welfare Association (ZIWWA).

He was also on the board of directors at the Empangeni War Memorial Hospital and the local education committee.

After relocating to Empangeni, the couple were able to watch their 13 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren grow up over the years.

‘Life for my husband and I only really began after we had our children.’

Like all marriages, the couple had their ups and downs over the years, but expressed that family is everything.

‘Their lives haven’t been easy but they made it work and made sure their children grew up educated and with love and integrity,’ said granddaughter Savera Singh.

‘The most important part of marriage is respecting one another,’ said Sally.

‘We have lived a happy life.’