The veteran Afrikaans news man who's autobiography appeared earlier this year, told the SABC that he wants to retire - a decision Riaan Cruywagen says he didn't take lightly.
Over the past 37 years Riaan Cruywagen anchored more than 7 000 TV news bulletins, and spent thousands of nights at work during his storied television broadcasting career spanning television but also radio.
"I have served the entire South African public to the very best of my ability as a TV newscaster during the past 37 years," says Riaan Cruywagen.
"My decision was not taken lightly.As a professional career broadcaster I always remained loyal to the SABC, irrespective of who was in charge. I have spent 47 wonderful and unforgettable years at the SABC, the first ten years of which as a radio announcer, and will always remain extremely grateful to the corporation for having given me the opportunity to follow a most satisfying career in broadcasting, my first love and passion."
He read his very first TV news bulletin on 26 November 1975, during the SABC's test transmission period of TV1. Now the SABC has allowed him, after he asked, if he could read the news on television in Afrikaans for the last time exactly 37 years to the day, on 26 November 2012.
"Riaan has throughout the years been a valued member of our news team. He has contributed immensely to the success of our Afrikaans news. We are quite fortunate to have had a man of his calibre serve us loyally for the past 47 years. We wish him well in all his future endeavours," says Jimi Matthews, the acting head of news and current affairs at the SABC in a press statement.
