Andries Bekker was one of the stars of this year’s Super 14 rugby, the Stormers’ magical lock, at 26 a national hero of the game and known as a gentle giant, a true friend and well-mannered man.
At home he was a loving stalwart to wife Pioni (26), his teenage sweetheart whom he married two years ago. Their lives were a never-ending fairytale . . . then the bombshell.
A rugby supporter recognised Andries immediately when he stopped his red Chevrolet Camaro at a park in Plattekloof, in the northern suburbs of Cape Town. A blue Corsa stopped behind him. He got out. A petite brunette in boots and a short skirt got out of the Corsa and fell into his arms.
The woman witnessing this was frozen in disbelief. Surely not him, her hero. But her eyes hadn’t deceived her. The next day the same scene played out, once again in front of her house.
When she couldn’t stand it any more the woman called YOU to witness what was going on.
The woman in the short skirt has been identified as Alet Strydom (23) of Plattekloof, a fourth-year design student at the Cape University of Technology.
On Facebook Alet calls herself Aletta CombatWombat Strydom, and her favourite quote, she says, is by American punk group Shai Hulud: “Nothing that breathes is above betrayal.”
A classmate says Alet was heard bragging loudly in a class of 40 students about her friendship with the Springbok lock.
When Alet heard about the pictures her response was simply, “That’s weird but I’d rather not say anything.”
Andries and Alet met at the beginning of the year but his wife didn’t at that stage have a reason to suspect anything.
The news has come as a shock to their friends and close-knit families - Pioni’s parents and his - and left them devastated.
His dad, former Springbok lock Hennie Bekker (57), is annoyed with his son and sad.
Pioni’s mom, who wants to be known just as Louise, says a spaceship landing in her garden would have been less of a surprise.
Andries doesn’t intend looking for excuses, Hennie says. “I love my wife very, very much,” he told his dad. “I’m genuinely sorry. It’s the first time ever and I was stupid.
Although things are tough for Pioni at the moment the couple will talk matters over when Andries returns home. Pioni eventually told us she’ll stand by her man because anyone can make a mistake.
Read the full article and see photos in the YOU of 10 June 2010.
Vote for your favourite celeb and you could win awesome prizes! CLICK HERE