Bruce Haigh

Bruce Douglas Haigh (6 August 1945 – 7 April 2023) was an Australian political commentator and diplomat. He joined the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs in 1972 and served in South Africa.

Life and career Haigh was born in Sydney in 1945, and grew up in Perth. He was in the Australian Army during the Vietnam War and studied at the University of Western Australia. including the Black Consciousness Movement in 1976. Included amongst the contacts he made at this time were the Black Consciousness Movement leader Steve Biko (murdered by police whilst being held in detention in 1977) and his partner Dr. Mamphela Ramphele (future Vice Chancellor of the University of Cape Town and a Director of the World Bank). Haigh helped banned newspaper editor Donald Woods escape from South Africa into exile in England. His role in that escape was portrayed by Australian actor John Hargreaves in the 1987 film Cry Freedom, produced and directed by Richard Attenborough.

Personal life and death Haigh was married twice, first to Libby Mosley and then to Jodie Burnstein. He had two children from his first marriage and two from his second; one son predeceased him.