Cruywagen was a prominent figure inside and outside of the Germiston community.<\/p>\n
He died at the age of 92, from a stomach ulcer.<\/p>
He was elected as a member of the House of Assembly for Germiston in 1961.<\/p>\n
During his parliamentary career he served as a deputy minister and minister of the departments of Home Affairs, Bantu Administration and National Education.<\/p>\n
In 1979, Dr Cruywagen became the Administrator of the Transvaal and served in this position until his retirement, in May, 1988.<\/p>\n
He was also an academic and an author.<\/p>\n
His eldest son, Albert Cruywagen, said his father was recognised as an honorary citizen of Germiston, Elsburg, Springs and Alberton.<\/p>\n
The Bertha Gxowa Hospital, in Germiston, was named the Willem Cruywagen Hospital, in his honour, in the 1970s.<\/p>\n
Albert Cruywagen described his father as “a people’s person, who was a patriotic Afrikaner”.<\/p>\n
“He cared a lot about his people and the Afrikaner culture,” Albert added.<\/p>\n
“He was very involved in health-related issues in the community and was a hard worker.<\/p>\n
“He’d always put people first; he would even take the time to drive people to the hospital.<\/p>\n
“My brother and I were born at the Germiston Hospital, that was later named after my father.”<\/p>\n
Cruywagen took up residence in Germiston in the mid-1940s and married his wife, Snow, in 1949.<\/p>\n He was a history, geography and music teacher in Germiston before becoming involved in politics.<\/p>\n He has two surviving sons, four grandchildren and one great-grandchild.<\/p>\n His last book “Die Cruywagens: ‘n Suid-Afrikaanse familie, Deel II” was released in March, this year.<\/p>\n A remembrance ceremony will be held on July 17, in Pretoria, followed by a private, family cremation.<\/p>\n![\"Snow](\"https:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2013\/07\/29ggcruy2-Small.jpg\")
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