Grey College, the alma mater of late cricketer Hansie Cronje, was packed to capacity an hour before his funeral service was due to start in Bloemfontein on Wednesday.
More than 1 000 people had arrived to say farewell to the former national cricket captain who died in a plane crash in George at the weekend.
His parents, Ewie and San-Marie Cronje, and his grandfather, Hansie, arrived just after 1pm. Cronje’s coffin was standing in the school hall while pupils had formed a guard of honour at the entrance. The hall can accommodate about 1 000 people.
A marquee was also erected on the school grounds for another 1 000 guests. The large media contingent was not allowed inside the school hall — they would follow the service on a television screen in another room.
Cronje’s former team-mates, Gary Kirsten, Shaun Pollock, Herchelle Gibbs, Craig Matthews and Allan Donald had also arrived, as well as rugby players Toks van der Linde and Joel Stransky.
Cricketer Jacques Kallis told reporters Cronje was a very special person, ”who certainly played a major role in my life”.
”I hope people will remember him for all the positive things.”
Proteas team manager Goolam Raja said: ”Hansie was a super, super person who was absolute magic. We’re going to miss him very dearly.” – Sapa