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June 6, 2002
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The death of Cronje has been a huge loss to cricket. Most people who knew him personally will treasure his memory. In time he would have been forgiven for his mistake. His work ethic, discipline and leadership were unmatched. My best memories of having played with him were in the 1992 World Cup in Australia.
Kepler Wessels (Former South African skipper)
I am deeply saddened by his death. Hansie was a great leader, arguably the best ever captain for South Africa. The entire team played for him and that is the kind of aura he possessed. Whether or not the nation has forgiven him is difficult to say but going by the huge number of people at his funeral it seems that he has been forgiven.
Mike Procter (Former South African all-rounder and national selector)
It is the most tragic death of a sports hero of South Africa. It is a shock to the cricketing world. One look at his statistics bears testimony to why he was such a great leader of men. His win of 71 percent in one-dayers and 50 percent in Tests was probably unmatched in South African cricketing history. It is sad that he was unable to redeem himself while he was alive but maybe he is now free from the shackles that he was caught in.

Hansie and I had a special relationship. After every series win the two if us would take a picture together. I have a huge collection of those pictures and it makes me very emotional to see them now. Hansie will be known as a true sporting hero of South Africa forever.
Gary Kirsten (Teammate)

Hansie's death has been a very sad incident for me personally. It is not only a great loss to cricket but to the entire nation of South Africa. He was a great leader and captain. For me his special qualities were his unparalleled leadership and his ability to inspire people with his presence. I can never forget his special smile. It saddens me that he did not get his chance to live his life fully. I believe that with his untimely death, cricket missed out on the contributions he could have made to the game. On the last tour of Pakistan after we won the one-day series, Hansie brought out a stump and giving it to me said, "This is for you.for all that you have done for us."

He has left a lot of good behind. He taught me to respect and care for people. Even two years after his humiliation he wasn't a bitter man when I met him two weeks ago. I went to visit him at his place and we had tea together. He was my friend beyond cricket and though I don't condone what he did, cricket wasn't the only common denominator between us.

He drove me back to the hotel and asked his wife to take a picture of his with my wife and me. There was sadness in his eyes but he was positive about his new job and his new life. We met for an hour and didn't discuss cricket at all.

Sadly, the world will remember him for the wrong reasons.
Goolam Rajah (Team manager)

We had five great years together. No one enjoys seeing a young man lose his life. Whatever he did pales into insignificance. Hansie was thorough, professional, kind, firm, generous, hard working. His team would have walked up Table Mountain for him. He was one of the greatest cricket captains South Africa has ever had.
Bob Woolmer (Former coach)
Here was a young man courageously and with dignity rebuilding his life after the setback he suffered a little while ago.
Nelson Mandela (South African leader)
I always admired Hansie as an opponent and enjoyed his friendship. Unfortunately, he didn't finish his career as everyone would have hoped but now it is timely to forgive him his shortcomings and remember the good times.
Steve Waugh (Australian skipper)
He may have been a fallen hero but no one can take away the fact that he was a great cricketer and sportsman for his country.
Javed Miandad (Former Pakistan skipper)

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