Tribute to Joost van der Westhuizen

Updated: 30 Sep 2019

A public memorial service was held by the state to commemorate the Rugby legend Joost van der Westhuizen, at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria. After a long battle with Motor Neuron Disease (MND), Joost was rushed to hospital on Saturday in a critical condition. The public memorial for Joost was televised, as members of the family, including his brother and wife Amore Vittone addressed mourners. The funeral of the Springbok legend was another unifying moment in South African history, as it focused on the unity sport can bring to the conflicts of post-1994 South Africa.

Search events by date

What happened on your birthday?

How we know this

01https://www.news24.com/Columnists/GuestColumn/what-joosts-death-taught-u... [accessed 2017/02/16]

Last updated · 30 Sep 2019

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2017, May 18). Tribute to Joost van der Westhuizen. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0123355

South African History Online (2017) 'Tribute to Joost van der Westhuizen', South African History Online, 18 May. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0123355 (Accessed: 16 August 2026).

South African History Online, Tribute to Joost van der Westhuizen [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0123355, (accessed 16 August 2026).

"Tribute to Joost van der Westhuizen." South African History Online, 18 May 2017, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0123355. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

South African History Online. "Tribute to Joost van der Westhuizen." South African History Online. May 18, 2017. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0123355.