WATCH: Mourners gather for Alfred Woodington’s memorial

Judge Mahomed Navsa, a close friend of Alfred Woodington, said his friend must have felt a sense of desperation to leave the world the way he did.

He was speaking during Woodington’s memorial service held at the Reiger Park Civic Centre on May 5, where members of the ANC, friends and family gathered to pay tribute.

Woodington, who was a former MP, a former representative of the Reiger Park community and a former Ward 32 committee member, died on April 26.

During the memorial service, Navsa who battled through his tribute, said he knew Woodington for 40 years.

“We don’t appreciate people when they are still among us. We don’t recognise their goodness or show them enough love. I think we let him down. How many of us really appreciated Alfred?
“He was a complex person, but he loved us and was concerned about the poor. He was passionate about his country and had a sense of integrity. You could always look to him because he was principled and had passion to protect fundamental human rights. Democratic values was something he lived for.”

Alistair Smith said Woodington was a dedicated and courageous unionist who fought bravely for the working class.
“Alfred defended his principles fiercely and made huge sacrifices in the face of great danger.”

Speaker of the Gauteng Legislature Ntombi Mekgwe, who also attended the memorial, said she knew Woodington from the early 1980s and observed that he was a protective person.

“No man would come close to me unless he talks politics; I respected him because I knew I was protected in the movement. He always wanted to make sure the people of South Africa are united and would say we make it a point that we fight people who are poor so they can have a better life. May we remember him for all the good he did for the people of this country,” Mekgwe said.

Details surrounding his death
Speaking to the Advertiser, Claude Woodington said there are speculations that his uncle committed suicide, but they were still awaiting autopsy results.

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Family man

Describing his uncle, Claude said he was an intelligent and strict person who dedicated his life to the struggle.

“My uncle was a man who loved his family. He leaves behind four children, four grandchildren and three siblings,” he said.

Woodington’s daughter, Ashleigh, said: “My father was strong and kind. He was a family man, a musician at heart and understood the meaning of love. He never missed a moment in our lives; we will miss him a lot.”

Tree of knowledge
In October, during an interview with the Advertiser at his Junction Jazz pub in Leeuwpoort Street, Woodington spoke about the history of Reiger Park and how the area came to be the township we all know, to educate the younger generation.

He shared that he moved to Reiger Park in the 1960s, previously known as Stirtonville, with his grandmother, aunt and relatives. His family home was on September Street.

Woodington’s political contributions
According to Woodington’s long-time friend Danny Cassel, Woodington worked at an engineering company where he became a shop steward for the National Union for Metalworkers South Africa (Numsa).

Woodington’s interest in politics grew when he became involved in the Convention for a Democratic South Africa negotiations and the security committee for the protection of the ANC leadership, including the late Nelson Mandela, Joe Slovo and many others.

“He was detained at Modderbee Prison in solitary confinement for his involvement against apartheid and his commitment in the fight against the apartheid regime. Alfred was also in former President Nelson Mandela’s Cabinet as a MP before he ventured into business.”

He said his friend was very close with the late Chris Hani and would visit the Reiger Park community with him.

“People haven’t paid much attention to the role he played in starting Ramaphosa informal settlement, which was once a dumpsite.”

Funeral service
His funeral service was held at the Boksburg Civic Centre on May 7. The funeral proceeded to Thomas Titus Nkobi Memorial Park.

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