AFTER nearly four decades in the broadcasting business, veteran Afrikaans news presenter Riaan Cruywagen plans to spend his first evening at home in 37 years watching the news with his family.
Cruywagen will read his last bulletin at 7 on Monday.
“I am delighted that from now on I will be home with my family in the evenings after so many years,” he said.
Monday marks exactly 37 years since Cruywagen, or “Cruy-Cruy”, started working at the SABC.
SABC’s acting head of news and current affairs Jimi Mathews announced Cruywagen’s retirement on Friday. Cruywagen, 67, told the Cape Argus on Sunday that his retirement day would be “just a normal day”.
Over the years, Cruywagen has been the subject of jokes that attribute superpowers to him similar to those ascribed to US action hero Chuck Norris because of the length of time he has been in the job.
Cruywagen began his career as a journalist in 1965, working part-time at the SABC in Cape Town, while studying at Stellenbosch University.
He read his first news bulletin on November 26, 1975, at 8pm.
Experimental television broadcasts in South Africa’s main cities began in that year, before nationwide service began in 1976.
With more than 7 000 television broadcasts under his belt, he feels “nostalgic but not emotional” about his departure.
“I am going to miss the adrenalin of live broadcasting, the wonderful atmosphere in the newsroom, and my colleagues,” he said
In June, Cruywagen became a YouTube sensation when a series of videos showing South Africans how to be awesome went viral. In the videos he shares signature party tricks, how to be a cool cat and how to be impressive.
Over the years Cruywagen has shown his humorous side outside the newsroom.
The bilingual Cruywagen’s autobiography, Wat’s Nuus, in which he reveals what happens behind the scenes at the national broadcaster, among other things, was released at the beginning of the year.
Some took to Twitter on Sunday to bid Cruywagen goodbye.
Josh:@josh_emcmor tweeted “Goodbye Riaan Cruywagen!! Thanks for years of bringing the news like only you could and also Haas Das se nuuskas! Be blessed!!”