Alfred Woodington memorial to take place in Reiger Park today
Woodington was a former MP in the Nelson Mandela Cabinet, who was passionate about the Reiger Park community.
A memorial service will be held at the Reiger Park Civic Centre at 5pm today (May 5) for political and human rights activist Alfred Woodington (63), who died on April 26.
The cause of his death was not revealed to the Advertiser.
Woodington was a former MP, a former representative of the Reiger Park community and a former Ward 32 committee member.
Speaking to the Advertiser, his longtime friend Danny Cassel described Woodington as a selfless person who always spoke his mind.
“He wasn’t someone who kept quiet when it came to issues affecting the community of Reiger Park.
“People haven’t paid much attention to the role he played when he started Ramaphosa informal settlement.
“Besides being a political influencer, Alfred was humorous, sincere and very strict.
“If you were his friend, he was someone who would take a bullet for you – that’s how much he valued friendship.
“He always fought for human rights for the betterment of the lives of people.”
According to Cassel, 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.”
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, with the aim of educating the younger generation.
He shared that he moved to Reiger Park in the 1960s, previously known as Stirtonville, with his grandmother, aunt and other relatives. His family home was in September Street.
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