I lied, Joost confesses

2009-11-01 08:04

Johannesburg - Former Springbok Joost van der Westhuizen has confessed to Rapport that it was him in the controversial sex video that was shot about three years ago. The confession comes after months of denials.

"It is me in the sex video and I'm very, very sorry that I lied. Please forgive me."

In the video Van der Westhuizen performs, among other things, oral sex, and sniffs the drug Cat.

When the video first became public knowledge a furore erupted over the alleged authenticity of the tape, with Van der Westhuizen saying it was not him in the video and claiming he was the victim of a smear campaign.

In his book Joost: The Man in the Mirror, Van Der Westhuizen tells of the hell he went through after the story broke. "The fact that I was living a lie consumed me."

Van der Westhuizen told Rapport he also lied to his wife Amor and only confessed to her at the beginning of August. "She is the most wonderful person and from there we started working on our relationship, left right and centre.

"I haven't forgiven myself yet. How can I expect her to forgive me?"

He admitted he could still lose his family. "Things are not 100% with Amor yet." However Van der Westhuizen rubbished claims of a pending divorce.

Van der Westhuizen also said he and Amor and their children went to visit evangelist Angus Buchan in June to ask for advice. "Uncle Angus made me realise that I must stand up and be a pillar for my family."
 

- Rapport