A memorial service is to be held today for acclaimed Struggle lawyer Peter Williams at the AFM Athlone Full gospel church in Dr Abdurahman Avenue, Athlone at 19:00.
“HE was my hero, he was our children’s hero,” said Anastasia Williams, 47, widow of departed struggle stalwart and human rights lawyer Peter Williams.
Their three children are Kenan, 19, Mikhail, 14, and Nicole, 8.
Williams lost his battle with colon cancer on Wednesday.
Yesterday Williams’s family was visited by Minister of Public Enterprises Lynne Brown, Rural Development and Land Reform Deputy Minister Mcebisi Skwatsha and ANC Western Cape secretary Faiez Jacobs at their home in Pinelands.
Recently Williams served as a member of Transnet’s board and Brown reminisced not only about his service towards others, but his character, resilience and determination.
“The thing I can say most about Peter is that he represented exactly what we are supposed to be.
“A very caring person, who wanted to build a caring society,” said Brown.
She wished the family strength through this period and said it was still difficult to believe he was gone at such a young age.
His passing comes two weeks after that of fellow struggle stalwart Essa Moosa, who Skwatsha said mentored and nurtured Williams.
“I still remember Peter was really suffering when I brought him the news of Essa, but now he in a better place.
“He was a wonderful man, a wonderful friend, lawyer, comrade and a true South African,” said Skwatsha.
Jacobs said Williams death comes weeks before the anniversary of the SA Youth Congress (Sayco) that was launched on March 28, 1987.
He said the Kewtown, Athlone, native was involved in student activism from his time at Belgravia High School, which will be prominently mentioned at the anniversary celebrations.
Anastasia said her husband was a hard worker, always up for a challenge and a people’s person, who was always there for everyone.
“He (Williams) had been suffering from pain for about 6 months and diagnosed with colon cancer in late December after which he took a turn for the worst.
“Never liking hospitals I had to care for him and had to make him to go to hospital as he was in so much discomfort.”
She reminisced about their meeting in 1995 at church, his resilience in pursuing her for a year before she finally gave him a chance and their marriage on April 13, 1996.
In January, an oncologist confirmed the cancer had spread and after undergoing hip surgery the family was told there was nothing more the hospital could do.
“We had time to prepare; it was hard but it was like therapy as we spoke every day before he passed yesterday (Wednesday).
“For my kids it’s a sigh of relief as their father is no longer suffering.”
She said she will always remember how wonderful and caring her husband was, and he will always be her and their children’s hero.