More Heartache Titute for DIV

He lost his daughter to cancer in 2019. Now former Bok coach Pieter de Villiers is grieving again after his beloved wife drowned in a friend's pool

- By Carla Coetzee

It was a devastating blow for the former Springbok rugby coach. He and his wife of 45 years had endured so much the death of two children shortly after birth and then the tragic loss of a beloved daughter to cancer at the age of 28.

Now Peter de Villiers is without the woman who's been by his side throughout all the trials and tribulations of life.

Theresa de Villiers (62) was found drowned in a swimming pool at the home of family friends in Gqeberha on 4 April. She was dressed in gym clothes and appeared to have been in the water for some time.

Police spokesperson Captain Sandra Janse van Rensburg says foul play isn't suspected and declined to speculate on the cause of the tragedy as police were still awaiting the results of blood tests.

Rafiek Hermans (40), the owner of the property where Theresa drowned, is devastated. “Police have confirmed Auntie Ville drowned” he says, using his family's nickname for Theresa.

She had been staying with Rafiek and his wife, Fatima, for a week. When he and Fatima left the house for work that morning, they'd said goodbye as usual, Rafiek said. “She said, 'See you later, have a good day, he recalls.

Theresa's body was discovered in the early afternoon that day and Rafiek had to break the news to Peter.

That was the worst phone call I've had to make in my life, he tells YOU. “Uncle Peter is always so excited when you call him, then I had to tell him what had happened. I don't think I've done anything harder in my life.