‘I'M GRATEFUL TO BE ME'
YOU South Africa|17 December 2020
Ruben Kruger’s widow, Lize, has found new love and made a life for herself and her girls in America
JANA VAN DER MERWE
‘I'M GRATEFUL TO BE ME'

IT’S a sunny morning in Bradenton, Florida, and the woman on the other side of the screen looks fresh and vibrant – a far cry from the grieving young woman who held her daughters in her arms as she buried the love of her life.

It’s been 10 years since Lize Kruger’s husband, legendary Springbok flank Ruben Kruger, lost his long battle with brain cancer at the age of just 39.

Life hasn’t been easy over the past decade. Her daughters, Zoë and Bella, were just seven and four respectively when their dad died and becoming a single mom while grappling with her grief was tough.

But time is a healer – and for Lize, the pieces of the shattered puzzle of life have slowly started to knit. She is now settled in America after moving there so the girls, both talented tennis players, could pursue their dreams of making the big league.

Both kids are doing well – Zoë (18) is now based at a prominent academy in Barcelona, Spain, while Bella (15) is at the prestigious IMG Academy in Bradenton.

Lize (50) also has a new man in her life, a South African who lives in Pretoria where she still has a home, and she sees him as often as possible.

“I think with any situation, any trauma, you can choose to get stuck in it or you can choose to grow, no matter how hard it may be,” she says.

“For my children’s sake, I couldn’t get stuck in the past. I couldn’t keep carrying the pain and telling them how hard it is. So looking at myself now, I’m grateful to be the person I am.”

Denne historien er fra 17 December 2020-utgaven av YOU South Africa.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra 17 December 2020-utgaven av YOU South Africa.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA YOU SOUTH AFRICASe alt
BALLON IN THE BAG
YOU South Africa

BALLON IN THE BAG

Manchester City midfielder Rodrigo Hernandez Cascante says his Ballon d'Or win is a victory for Spanish football

time-read
4 mins  |
14 November 2024
IT WAS ALL A LIE
YOU South Africa

IT WAS ALL A LIE

A new doccie exposes the Grey's Anatomy writer who fabricated her life story

time-read
5 mins  |
14 November 2024
'I WILL NEVER GIVE UP'
YOU South Africa

'I WILL NEVER GIVE UP'

After her husband, anticorruption activist Alexei Navalny, was poisoned and murdered by the Kremlin, she became the public face of Russia's opposition. In this candid interview Yulia Navalnaya opens up about life on the run, her perilous family life and why she's continuing her husband's fight to save their country

time-read
10+ mins  |
14 November 2024
AGREE TO DISAGREE
YOU South Africa

AGREE TO DISAGREE

Trevor Noah on how his childhood squabbles with his mother inspired his delightful new book

time-read
4 mins  |
14 November 2024
PAUSE THE CLOCK
YOU South Africa

PAUSE THE CLOCK

Researchers have discovered that the ageing process spikes at 44 and 60. Here's what you can do to slow it down

time-read
5 mins  |
14 November 2024
MPOOMY ON TOP
YOU South Africa

MPOOMY ON TOP

We chat to SA's most popular female podcaster about love, loss and her booming success

time-read
4 mins  |
14 November 2024
MY BROTHER IS NOT TO BLAME
YOU South Africa

MY BROTHER IS NOT TO BLAME

Tinus Drotské says his sibling, ex Bok Nǎka, is the victim in the brawl with a neighbour that landed up in court

time-read
4 mins  |
14 November 2024
MATT THE RECLUSE
YOU South Africa

MATT THE RECLUSE

A year after his friend's tragic death, the actor continues to shun the spotlight

time-read
4 mins  |
14 November 2024
A LEAP OF FAITH
YOU South Africa

A LEAP OF FAITH

After her husband tried to kill her by tampering with her parachute she thought she'd never trust a man again-but now she's found love

time-read
5 mins  |
14 November 2024
THEY'RE MY KIDS!
YOU South Africa

THEY'RE MY KIDS!

This West Coast woman treats her monkeys as iftheyre humans and animal activists are not happy about it

time-read
4 mins  |
14 November 2024