Under wet, grey skies a park in Troyeville was renamed in honour of the late academic and anti-apartheid activist who lived and was murdered in the suburb.
DAVID WEBSTER'S memory will live on in his home suburb, Troyeville - Bloemenhof Park is now David Webster Park.
....Webster, in the prime of his life at 44, was shot dead outside his home in the suburb 20 years ago, on Workers' Day, 1 May 1989. A mosaic plaque, reading "David Webster 1945-1989 Assassinated in Troyeville for his fight against apartheid - lived for justice, peace and friendship", was unveiled at the renaming.
Tribute
Eddie Webster, professor of sociology at Wits, paid tribute to David Webster at his funeral in 1989.
"From time to time in the history of opposition to apartheid in our open universities, there has arisen from within our ranks men and women who have had the courage to transcend the narrow confines of the established role of university teacher," he said.
"By their combination of theory and practice they have been able to go beyond the 'ivory tower' and engage directly with the struggle of the majority for democracy. By challenging racist practices they threatened the apartheid system. David Webster was such a man."
Under grey skies and spitting rain – considered a blessing in Africa – a distinguished crowd of about 100 people gathered in memory of the University of the Witwatersrand academic and anti-apartheid activist, in a ceremony organised by Johannesburg City Parks.
Executive Mayor Amos Masondo; Minister of Health Barbara Hogan; Robben Island inmate and great friend of Nelson Mandela, Ahmed Kathrada; the provincial MEC for safety and security, Firoz Cachalia; and City councillors of transport and the environment, Rehana Moosajee and Prema Naidoo, all took their seats under large canvas umbrellas.
Students and colleagues
Two former students of Webster, singer Johnny Clegg and runner Bruce Fordyce, and his partner, Maggie Friedman, were there too. Members of the Detainees' Parents Support Committee (DPSC) and the United Democratic Front also attended the function. Webster was a member of both organisations.
.....Webster used to pour tea at the monthly DPSC gatherings. He monitored patterns of repression through the committee, and gave advice and comfort to parents of detainees. He also worked to ease the discomfort of detainees by sending them educational material and track suits.
He worked, too, on the Free the Children campaign, calling on the apartheid government to stop detaining children. He also initiated a "running shoes campaign" in which well-known figures like Fordyce and Clegg would sign their running shoes and donate them to political detainees.
"He worked relentlessly against human rights abuses. He lived his respect for human dignity," wrote Terry Sacco of the DPSC in the programme brochure. "He had a depth of understanding and a nobility of mind. He had wisdom and integrity, an infectious sense of fun and humour and loved peace."
Moving tribute
Clegg took the podium and gave a moving tribute. First a student of Webster's, he became a colleague, eventually teaching alongside Webster at Wits for three years. Clegg spoke of Webster's "strong sense of conviction" and "his persuasive powers" – he would corner you and gently but firmly tell you he would see you at a book launch.
"He loved all forms of culture – a play at the Market Theatre, an exhibition. And he would make sure all the key people would be there."
A dancer as well as a singer, Clegg said he took Webster to the Jeppe Hostel and introduced him to the dance culture among migrant workers. "In two to three months he started telling me things about them."
Webster was a multi-layered person and a gentle soul. "He was on a lone path to facilitate and bring people together. He was an incredibly generous person."
The sun had broken through the clouds and the cluster of jacarandas under which the ceremony had taken place offered shade. The mood was restful - the formalities were over, but people lingered, reluctant to leave a place that had taken on special significance, a place of commemoration of Webster.
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