{"id":143678,"date":"2017-02-06T14:54:08","date_gmt":"2017-02-06T12:54:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/?p=143678"},"modified":"2017-02-06T15:58:02","modified_gmt":"2017-02-06T13:58:02","slug":"joost-van-der-westhuizen-dies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/develop.citizen.co.za\/germiston-city-news\/news-headlines\/2017\/02\/06\/joost-van-der-westhuizen-dies\/","title":{"rendered":"Joost van der Westhuizen dies"},"content":{"rendered":"

Former Springbok captain Joost van der Westhuizen has died.<\/p>\n

The legendary World Cup winner passed away on Monday.<\/p>

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He had been battling motor neuron disease since 2011 at the age of 40 and was confined to wheelchair, as a result of it.<\/p>\n

He held on with the unwavering determination he showed on the field while playing for the Springboks, the Bulls and his beloved Blue Bulls.<\/p>

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Throughout his debilitating illness, which left him confined to a wheelchair and using a computer to communicate, Van der Westhuizen raised awareness about the disease and formed the charitable J9 Foundation to support his efforts.<\/p>\n

Van der Westhuizen represented his country 89 times during a decade-long career starting in 1993.<\/p>\n

Born and raised in Pretoria, he was part of the South African team that emerged victorious from the 1995 Rugby World Cup victory in front of former president Nelson Mandela.<\/p>\n

A respected leader, he went on to captain South Africa at the 1999 World Cup and was the most-capped player in Springbok history by the time of his international retirement in 2003.<\/p>\n

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Story courtesy of Northern Natal Courier<\/a><\/p>\n

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