If you’re a South African rugby fan, you know the name Joost van der Westhuizen like the back of your hand. This man was more than just a rugby player; he was a legend. Joost van der Westhuizen’s untimely death left a void that is still felt today, so let’s pay tribute to his remarkable legacy.

 

 

Joost van der Westhuizen was born on 20 February 1971, in Pretoria, South Africa according to Briefly. He began his journey at Hoërskool F.H. Odendaal before moving on to the University of Pretoria, where he earned a Bachelor of Commerce degree. In 1992, he represented the Junior Springbok team, marking the start of his illustrious career.

Joost was more than just a rugby player; he was a force of nature on the field. His competitive spirit, aggressive tackles, and relentless determination set him apart from the rest.

He played for the Blue Bulls in his provincial career, eventually becoming their captain. From 1993 to 2003, he represented the national team, the Springboks, and left an indelible mark on the game.

ALSO READ: Francois Pienaar: The Rugby legend who united a nation

SPRINGBOKS MATCHES
During his time with the Springboks, Joost van der Westhuizen made 89 test match appearances, scoring 38 tries—a record in his era. He played in three Rugby World Cups, with his standout performance in the 1995 tournament, where South Africa emerged victorious.

Joost was the first player to reach 100 matches for the Springboks and the first to represent South Africa in three World Cup finals.

Joost’s personal life was equally captivating. He was first married to Marlene, but they divorced six years later. His second wife was Amor Vittone, a singer, with whom he had two children, Jordan and Kylie.

ALSO READ: Rugby World Cup 2023: Celebrating Bryan Habana’s legacy

FACING ADVERSITY
Joost van der Westhuizen faced adversity both on and off the field. After his first marriage ended, he lost his job at SuperSport. In 2009, he suffered a suspected heart attack, which turned out to be a false alarm.

Joost van der Westhuizen waving at fans as he is driven around the Rugby field. Image: Instagram via @finditnuus
However, his life took a tragic turn in 2011 when he was diagnosed with motor neurone disease. Despite the grim prognosis of two to five years to live, Joost fought relentlessly.

Sadly, Joost van der Westhuizen passed away at the age of 45 after a six-year battle with the devastating disease. His friend and colleague, James Small, noted that Joost’s fighting spirit never wavered, mirroring the intensity he displayed on the rugby field.

MEMORIAL
Joost’s memorial service on February 10 was a testament to the impact he had on the world. The ’95 World Cup-winning team, along with countless fans, paid their respects. His colleagues remember him as a man who was both playful and focused, a true testament to his unwavering dedication.

Even as he neared the end of his life, Joost van der Westhuizen continued to make a difference. His J9 Foundation, named after his jersey number and the initial of his first name, ensures that his legacy endures.

The foundation provides support to those suffering from motor neurone disease and has opened clinics in Soweto, with plans for more in the future.

The birthday came on a good day after the Springboks had won their first World Cup game.

They trounced Scotland with an 18-3 scoreline, and fans are all over the place.

Many are still celebrating the Springboks win, but Nyakane has other plans.

 

 

He was celebrating his daughter’s special day and penned her a heartfelt message on Instagram.

“Happy 4th birthday to my little princess 👸🏽 @babyskylar.11 love you so much ❤️❤️❤️❤️ @gavaza_”

Springboks prop daughter birthday
Trevor Nyakane and his wife. image via Instagram @trevornyakane
SPRINGBOKS PROP CELEBRATES HIS DAUGHTER’S BIRTHDAY IN FRANCE
Many Springbok stars’ families are cheering the team to defend the title in France.

Some enjoy themselves, but Nyakane’s family was private until his daughter’s birthday.

Indeed, there is a lot of fun in France and celebrating a birthday there looked nice for the young girl.

ALSO READ: Watch: Springboks star’s joke left Siya Kolisi in stitches

She was with her mother most of the time. They enjoyed a lot together as Nyakane was with the team.

Celebrating his daughter, he compiled many videos of her past year.

Some she was at home enjoying herself, and it all looked like she was having the time of her life.

View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Trevor Nyakane (@trevornyakane)

MZANSI WISH HER A HAPPY DAY
After the Springboks prop shared a video celebrating his daughter’s birthday, many fans also wished her well.

“Happiest of Birthdays beautiful Skylar 🎂🎂🎂🎂🍨🍧🍥🍦 hope its a day full of happiness and love x”

“Happy birthday to the princess ❤️”

“Lockdown just made everybody grow too quickly. Just look at her. All grown up. So cute”

“This the world cup Princess 🙌❤️”

On Monday this week 11 September this week, disgraced celebrity doctor, Nandipha “Dr Nandi” Magudumana, made another court appearance after applying for bail a few days earlier. As always, she looked beautiful with her hair in a new hairstyle and her signature red lipstick. A new look wasn’t all she was sporting this week as she seemingly decided to employ some bizarre courtroom tactics too.

 

 

Despite all of this, her bail application was denied — something South African social media users seemingly think is for the best.Thabo Bester and his lover Dr Nandi are arguably one of South Africa’s most cunning criminal couple.

The pair stunned locals with their incredulous prison break, illegal — and highly successful — business schemes and then a daring escape from SATheir story sounds like something from a Hollywood movie and continues to stun South Africans who have watched everything unfold.

This week Dr Nandi headed to court to hear whether or not her bail application would be granted — and it was not.

CRAZY BEAUTIFUL OR JUST FAKING IT?
Sitting in the dock, she wore her braids in a high ponytail, had her edges expertly “laid” and wore a full face of makeup which included eye shadow and her signature red lipstick.

Her nails were also recently done.

As usual, she wore Nike and appears to be adapting to the weather because instead of a hoodie she wore a short sleeved white t-shirt.While her look caught the attention of many, what really had people talking was her bizarre behaviour.

She was captured talking to herself, singing and even hitting her head at one point.

Many believe that she may just please insanity and is starting to lay the foundation for that. Others were just glad that her bail was denied and appear to have renewed faith in the SA justice system as a result.

Award-winning actor Wiseman Mncube, who’s populalrly known for his role as Nkunzi’s (Msiza Masoja) son Sibonelo has exited Uzalo.

ALSO READ:‘Shaka ILembe’ star Wiseman Mncube on losing his wife

WISEMAN MNCUBE EXITS ‘UZALO’
Entertainment commentator @TvblogbyMLU has revealed that the actor Wiseman Mncube, who plays Sibonelo on SABC1’s soapie Uzalo has officially resigned from the show and joined My Brother’s Keeper.

 

“Wiseman Mncube who plays Sibonelo on the number one leading show in Mzansi #Uzalo has officially resigned from the show. Mncube has then joined a new telenovela on DStv Mzansi magic that will replace #Gomoramzansi,” tweeted the commentator.

Mzansi Magic reported on Thursday, 31 August on their Twitter account My Brother’s Keeper will replace the award-winning Gomora.

IOL confirms that Mncube has scored the leading role of Nqubeko, a headstrong and overambitious son of a mistress who is tired of being side-lined by his father.

The multi-award-winning telenovela Gomora will come to an end in its fourth season.

ALSO READ: Mzansi Magic: ‘My Brother’s Keeper’ replaces ‘Gomora’

‘SHAKA ILEMBE’: ACTOR’S LATEST ROLE
The Uzalo actor Wiseman Ncube, who recently starred in Mandoza in his biopics star keeps on rising also portrayed the character of King Zwide in Shaka Ilembe and Mqhele in The Wife.

The star-studded cast of My Brother’s Keeper also includes Generations: The Legacy star Zola Nombona, The Estate star S’dumo Mtshali, Smoke and Mirrors star Lindani Nkosi, Uzalo star Nelisa Mchunu, Umkhokha: The Curse star Nkanyiso Mchunu and Scandal! star Rosemary Zimu.

Shirley Adonisi, director of local entertainment channels at M-Net revealed in a statement to TshisaLIVE:

“We have always offered our viewers the best in local entertainment in a variety of genres, and with the upcoming premiere of My Brother’s Keeper, we’re pleased to bring another well-written and expertly produced series to our DStv Compact viewers.”

“Telenovelas are a much-loved genre, and we look forward to growing our impressive and versatile content slate with a show that is sure to keep us all intrigued and entertained.”

My Brother’s Keeper will premiere on Monday, 23 October at 19:30.

On Sunday, 10 September, members from the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) political party, Mbuyiseni Ndlozi, and Ringo Madlingozi rubbished the allegations that Madlingozi had “quietly quit the EFF to regain his relevance in the music industry” reported by PSAFLIVE, an independent online news source.According to PSAFLIVE, it was alleged that after seeing that the red beret wearers party is not growing and MPs are getting fired by the party’s leader Julius Malema, Ringo Madlingozi allegedly decided dump the party to return to the music industry.

 

 

Madlingzo is a national icon. He made his name in the music industry in the 90s with sensational hit songs like Sondela, Ekuseni, Into Yam, Kum NaKum, and more. In May 2019, he had decided to ditch the African National Recently, he was accused of having allegedly parted ways with the EFF. However, he and the popular EFF member Mbuyiseni Ndlozi have slammed the claim.

“Ur journalism is fraud. Ur lies hide behind ur ‘reliable sources’. And Ur wishes can never be mine. What u must write is the re-emergence of all my catalogue on all Digital Platforms for the first time on the 15th of Sept 2023. I’m @EFFSouthAfrica thru & thru. Ur Juno’s r liars,” the Zinodaka hitmaker replied in the comment section.Congress (ANC) which he had supported for years to join the EFF

Taking to X, (the social media platform formally known as Twitter), Mbuyiseni Ndlozi came gunning for the news source, PSAFLIVE as he dismissed the allegations that Ringo Madlingozi had left the party.

“This is absolute rubbish and evidently spread by desperate idiots who know nothing about the EFF. Fighter Ringo Madlingozi is a Member of the EFF in good standing and deployed to [the] National Assembly by the socialist, pan Africanist and anti-imperialist Economic Liberation Movement,” he wrote on his timelines.