By Nalisha Kalideen
Although they lived around the corner from each other for most of their lives, the first Hansie Cronje's parents heard of the love between him and his future wife Bertha was in 1992.
And now even through this time of having to deal with the pain of their son's death, Ewie and San-Marie Cronje still remember Hansie's great love for his wife.
It was in 1992, the year the South African cricket team was sponsored by Interflora when Hansie first expressed his love for Bertha.
| 'They had more time to share' |
"They had arrangements (flowers) for the players to give their wives and girlfriends, and Hansie sent his to Bertha," said Ewie.
San-Marie, Hansie mother, said the romance would be remembered by others.
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"The Free State Premier Winkie Direko said that Bertha had once worked under her sister at the school for the disabled. And Bertha told her in great detail about how Hansie had proposed to her," she said.
"I think he was quite a romantic man, especially when it came to Bertha. He was very supportive of her, and he always wanted to protect her."
But in 2000 when the match fixing scandal broke it was time for Bertha to support Hansie.
"I don't think any other wife could have supported or assisted him like she did," Ewie said.
San-Marie said Bertha's biggest aim in life was to "get him on his feet again".
Even though it had been a difficult time San-Marie said, she had felt proud of her son.
"In all those years Hansie never ever blamed anybody but himself. He never pointed to anybody and said "they tempted me", San-Marie said.
She said she also felt his involvement in the King commission had freed him.
"Seeing him after the King commission I could see he was a free man, not to the world, but in his soul. I think he was happy after that, and he loved his wife," San-Marie said.
Ewie said that for the last two years during Hansie's ban from international cricket he had more time to spend with Bertha.
"They had more time to share and make plans."
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