Bertha: Life after Hansie
2004-04-18 12:51
George - Bertha Cronje, 31, attractive widow of cricket hero Hansie Cronje, has a new love in her life.
Two years after her husband died in an air crash in the Outeniqua Mountains outside George, she says she is happy to be alive again.
"Yes, I am well. I think of Hansie every day. I still cry a lot, but these are also tears of gratitude. Through grace I can state that it is good to be alive again."
The special man in her life is Jacques du Plessis, an auditor in George.
Du Plessis, also 31, is a gentle and charming person who, like Bertha, has had his share of heartache. He is divorced and has a young daughter.
Bertha says: "I met him about a year ago and since then our friendship has grown into something beautiful and precious. We share the same spiritual values and are close on an emotional level.
"Time will tell if our friendship will develop into something more permanent. We don't want to anticipate things and want to keep the relationship private."
Difficult time
Bertha, a physiotherapist, went through a difficult time after Hansie's sudden death. "Some days I just sat and stared.
Other days I climbed into Hansie's wardrobe to feel closer to him. At one stage I could hardly face getting on with life."
Bertha, who is deeply religious, says God gave her signs that made her realise that she just had to get on with life. "God gives us a choice: hold on to the past or get on with your life and live for him. I decided to choose life."
"Hansie will always play a very important part in my life. I will never forget him and what he strived for. He will always remain deep in my heart."
Bertha and Jacques recently visited her parents, Kosie and Elize Pretorius in Bloemfontein. They like him a lot and are positive about their friendship.
They say they are thankful that Bertha had met someone who can support her on a daily basis.
"Life can be very difficult for a widow. No one should mourn for the rest of his or her life and be alone forever. A person is not meant to be like that," says her father, a retired math teacher.
Faced TV cameras
Hansie and Bertha would have celebrated their ninth wedding anniversary on April 8. Few people will forget how she, during his funeral at Grey College in Bloemfontein, stood in front of the TV cameras and spoke about her love for him. They admired her courage and calmness.
Hansie's parents, Ewie and San-Marie Cronje, who live in the street behind the Pretorius couple in Universitas in Bloemfontein, say they are glad that Bertha has found happiness again. "Life goes on," says Ewie Cronje, who has prostrate cancer.
The Cronjes say they won't do or say anything that will harm their good relationship with Bertha.
Bertha may soon sell her luxury Fancourt home in George. She plans to start a business that will, among others, help people with osteoporosis.
She will write more about her new love in Finesse.