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Cricket South Africa (CSA) has sent his condolences to the Cronje family after the death of Ewie Cronje in Bloemfontein on Monday at the age of 80.
Cronje had been deteriorating his health for some time.
Born in the village of Bethulie in the southeast of the Free State, Nicolaas Everhardus Cronje became one of the great characters and driving forces of cricket in the Free State.
Known to everyone simply as ‘Oom Ewie’, he represented the Free State for a decade, from 1960 to 1972, at a time when Free State cricket was not particularly strong, and can truly be considered one of the men who carried the province to become a powerhouse that allowed them to compete against the best and achieve a memorable triumph over the Western Province in Newlands in 1989 to earn them their first major trophy, the limited night series.
After his game days, he served Free State cricket in virtually every capacity, including being a call-up coach, outfielder and president, at which time he represented Free State on the Board of the South African Cricket Union. After the unit, he was a member of the inaugural Board of the United Cricket Board of South Africa.
He worked as an administrator at Free State University after he quit teaching at his beloved Alma Mater, Gray College, and had a lot to do with the growth of the university in the sports fields of South Africa.
“We have not only lost one of the game’s great administrators and a prominent player,” said CSA Acting Chief Executive Jacques Faul. “But a wonderful human being. He was a great man and servant to the game.
“People across the country will appreciate very special memories of him and, on behalf of the CSA Family, I extend our condolences to his family, his friends, his cricket colleagues and all the people who were touched by his humility, kindness. and camaraderie. He was the cricket of the Free State “
He was honored with the Khaya Majola Lifetime Award for his cricket service in 2012.
He is survived by his wife, Saint-Marie, his eldest son, Frans, his daughter Hester, and his family and grandchildren. Her youngest son Hansie, captain of the Proteas from 1994 to 2000, passed away.
– Cricket South Africa
