Bertha's new husband 'no lamb'

2004-07-04 11:50

Lukas Meyer

George - Bertha Cronje's new husband has left a woman with a broken marriage and a broken heart.

Theresa Nigrini, 34, says she was heartbroken when Jacques du Plessis, well-known auditor in George, left her for Hansie Cronje's beautiful, rich widow.

"I don't really want to talk about. It was a bitter pill, but life has got to go on," Nigrini said.

She was married when she had an affair with Du Plessis. Lucas Nigrini, 37, her ex-husband, is less forgiving.

"Du Plessis messed up my life. I lost my wife, my two children and my business. I am a broken man with not a cent to my name. The settlement with Theresa financially crippled me.

"I suffered tremendous emotional damage. At one stage I didn't want to work anymore. I was depressed and humiliated. People don't know what a divorce does to you, especially under these circumstances.

Nigrini, who does painting and interior decorating, was a teacher for many years. He said his marriage to Theresa was "quite happy", until Du Plessis came into their lives.

"He's a smooth little man. He only seems like a meek little lamb."

"With reference to Theresa he told me: 'I get what I want'. Once I caught him in a compromising position with my wife.

"On another occasion he ran away, but I couldn't catch up with him. He's very fast and fit. He has no trouble sailing over a high fence either."

Nigrini said he was willing to repeat all this in a sworn statement.

No baby yet, says Bertha

"I have nothing left. Matters must come to a conclusion. If a civil case comes out of this, so be it.

"Then all the dirty laundry will be aired in court. We'll see who has most to lose."

Nigrini said the worst thing about it all was that his once healthy marriage was shattered, while Du Plessis "came out of it married to a very rich woman".

Du Plessis refused to discuss his relationship to the pretty blonde Theresa Nigrini. He didn't deny their "friendship".

"It belongs to the past. It's no use living in the past. Leave those things alone."

But George is abuzz about Du Plessis's love for pretty women. Rumour has it that some even informed Bertha about his charm with women.

Bertha in an e-mail to Rapport last week said everything was well in her marriage of a little more than two weeks. "And no, there is not a baby on the way."

Her marriage to the divorced man and father of a four-year-old girl came as a surprised. She married Du Plessis two years after her husband, former cricket hero Hansie Cronje, died in a plane crash outside George.

She inherited millions from Hansie's estate, including a luxury home at the Fancourt golf estate near George.

- Rapport