Hansie Cronje’s siblings remember him on his birthday

The late Proteas captain, Hansie Cronje, has been remembered on what would have been his 57th birthday.

The cricket hero died in a plane crash in 2002. Two years earlier, Hansie made headlines after admitting to accepting a bribe for match-fixing. He received a lifetime ban from professional cricket.

HANSIE CRONJE REMEMBERED ON HIS BIRTHDAY

On Facebook, Hansie Cronje’s brother Frans shared an emotional tribute on his sibling’s birthday.

Frans posted a picture of his younger brother and his father, Ewie, who passed in 2020.

Frans – a filmmaker who produced the 2008 biopic Hansie – shared: “Would have been my brother, Hansie’s 57th birthday today. I thought of asking AI to generate a pic of what he might have looked like today, but I think he would have looked like my dad Ewie, sitting next to him. 

He added: “Such beautiful memories”

Hansie Cronje’s sister, Hester, shared a clip of her visiting a special memorial wall at his alma mater, Grey College, where his ashes are kept.

“Miss you, Hansie”, she shared

HOW DID HE DIE?

In June 2000, Hansie Cronje admitted during the King Commission of Inquiry that he had accepted money from bookmakers to manipulate matches. The scandal destroyed his reputation and his career, resulting in a life ban from cricket.

Tragically, Hansie died in a airplane crash en route from Johannesburg to George, near the Outeniqua Mountains. Hansie and both pilots of the small aircraft were killed. He was only 32.

Before his untimely death, Hansie had been working on rebuilding his life. He pursued his Master’s in Business Leadership through Unisa. He also took up a post as a financial manager at Bell Equipment and did coaching outreach programmes in underprivileged areas.