Hannes Strydom’s Tragic Death Sparks Talk of 'Curse'

South Africa is mourning the passing of Hannes Strydom, who succumbed to the injuries of a car accident at the age of 58. His demise makes him the fifth member of South Africa's 1995 Rugby World Cup-winning team to have died under unfortunate circumstances.

Hannes Strydom was part of the national team from 1993 to 1997. Although his tenure with the South African team was brief, it was punctuated with a triumph at the Rugby World Cup. In the final held in Johannesburg, South Africa overcame New Zealand. Nelson Mandela was a witness to this victory from the stands.

Strydom tragically lost his life in a car accident on November 19, 2023. The incident transpired near the town of Witbank in the Mpumalanga province.

Strydom is the fifth member of the victorious 1995 World Cup team to have died prematurely. International media have raised speculation about a 'curse', considering four other members did not reach their 60th year. The team's iconic coach has also passed away.

The notion of a curse has evoked much interest, especially given the superstitious nature of the people in the Republic of South Africa. Each passing of a 1995 gold medallist elicits widespread reactions.

Coach Kitch Christie succumbed to cancer in 1998. Ruben Kruger lost his battle with a brain tumor in 2010. Joost van der Westhuizen passed away in 2017 due to neurodegenerative disease complications. In 2019, we mourned the passing of Chester Williams and James Small, both victims of heart disease.

"The rumours of a curse are absurd, however they resurface with each passing," echoes one of the former South African representatives. "It was a group of exceptionally athletic men. However, as life progresses, mortality catches up. It is indeed tragic. Hannes was an incredible man full of kindness. On the field, he was a force to reckon with, but beyond that, he was a dedicated family man."