Beloved fudge seller will be sorely missed by community
“He used to sell fudge at the corner of Sefako Makgatho Drive and Enkeldoorn Avenue and was a very caring person."
A beloved local, who sold fudge on a street corner in Montana for the past 11 years, will be missed by residents after he passed away at the beginning of April.
Willie Smit, also known as the “die fudge oom”, was well-loved by members of the community, said Driekie Grobler.
Grobler is a local proofreader who edits the Twee Riviere Retirement Village’s monthly newspaper, where Smit was a resident. He asked her to assist him in publishing his book.
“He used to sell fudge at the corner of Sefako Makgatho Drive and Enkeldoorn Avenue. He was a very caring person, but few people know he had a history of addiction.
“He wrote about this battle in a book titled Die Fudge Oom, which consists of his thoughts and poems. He was a religious person and always testified about the long road to the light and his love for his heavenly father.”
Grobler said Willie had Parkinson’s disease and had to go for an operation just before the book was finalised and printed.
“When I tried to contact him, I found out he was not doing well. I tried to get him a copy of his book as soon as possible. I met his daughter and gave it to her the evening before his death; however, he died before he could see it, which is very sad.”
She said Koekoes Vorster assisted Willie with taking orders and his administration, but he made his fudge himself.
“He always used only the best ingredients and added a Bible verse in each packet, which he called his baking powder,” Vorster said.
According to Grobler, Willie was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2001 and his wife soon passed away after that.
“That led to alcohol and cocaine abuse. With the support of caring people and church members, Willie was rehabilitated and started selling fudge in 2010 when he sobered up totally.”
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