Cape Town - The youngest victim of the weekend’s Franschhoek bus crash, 19-year-old Denzil Boonzaaier, will be buried in Groendal on Saturday.
Two Franschhoek Rugby Club players and a supporter died in the crash.
The club’s under-20 team, senior players and supporters were on their way to play in Grabouw, when an accident happened on the R45 between Franschhoek and Villiersdorp.
The driver tried to avoid hitting two cyclists and lost control of the bus along the Franschhoek mountain pass.
Emergency officials said 30 other people, including the cyclists, were injured.
Bonzaaier’ father Anton said he still could not believe he would never again see his eldest son walk through the door after a rugby game.
“The morning when he left for the game, he still showed me his moves here in the kitchen. As he walked out the door, he teased his mom, saying he hoped there would be beautiful girls in Grabouw.”
Anton said Denzil was a left wing in the team and lived for rugby.
“Rugby is a very popular sport here in Groendal and Denzil, like the rest of the boys, was mad about it. He would practise every free moment he had.”
The Bonzaaiers received the news of Denzil’s death on Saturday from one of his friends.
Anton is taking the news of his son’s death one day at a time, but said his wife was beside herself with grief.
“Her heart is broken. She is a strong woman, but she is taking it very hard.”
He said when he went to identify his son on Sunday morning, he still looked like the beautiful boy he remembered. He would have turned 20 later this month.
“He always had dreams of being on television. It is sad, but in a way his dream came true with all the cameras reporting on him now,” said Anton.
On Sunday, South African Rugby Union president Oregan Hoskins expressed his condolences to the families and friends of those involved in Saturday’s accident.
“This was most shocking and distressing news to receive on a Saturday morning – a time when rugby people all over the country are looking forward to enjoy playing or watching rugby.
“I can only imagine the shock and distress that must be going through the Franschhoek Rugby Club right now. My heart goes out to them.”
Cape Times