Twitter bids farewell to Riaan Cruywagen

The Twitter community tonight joined together in bidding a fond farewell to veteran newscaster Riaan Cruywagen.

The broadcaster, who has been on South African televisions for the last 37 years read the news for the last time, eliciting tributes from across the Twittersphere.

Cruywagen has been on the country’s screens since the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC)’s first TV in 1975.

In that time he has become synonymous with Afrikaans news. His longevity also ensured that he became an online personality in the same vein as David Hasselhoff and Chuck Norris.

It was hardly surprising therefore that a number of tweeters shared the emotion of the occasion with Cruywagen:

#RiaanCruywagen I’m crying with him! Say you aren’t…..you’ll be lying!

— Donallen Johnstone (@ThatmanDon) November 26, 2012

Ladies and gents, please rise, as we say goodbye to a legend. #riaancruywagen

— Martin Slabbert (@martinslabbert) November 26, 2012

Cry cry Cry cry Cry cry Cry cry Cry cry Cry cry Cry cry – please cry, #RiaanCruywagen!

— Dale Ferreira (@badtennis_) November 26, 2012

You’d swear I know #RiaanCruywagen the way I’m so sad for him leaving SABC news! Haha!!! What a legend *takes a bow*

— Kay Roberts (@KaylaCRoberts) November 26, 2012

Others introduced first time viewers to the peculiarities of Afrikaans news:

Irregular visitors to the Afrikaans news bulletin: Yes, that really is a maize and sunflower seed price index you just saw. #RiaanCruywagen

— Simon Hartley (@SilverStreak2OV) November 26, 2012

Still others were hoping for a spectacular exit:

Watching Riaan Cruywagen’s last news bulletin on SABC2. Kinda hoping he stages a grand exit, like dropping the f-bomb live on air

— Duncan McLeod (@mcleodd) November 26, 2012

In the end, Cruywagen signed off with a farewell speech fuelled with the same dignity he maintained throughout his career.