Former Springbok rugby player's daughter killed in horror N2 crash

Published Feb 16, 2019

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Cape Town  A horrific crash on the N2 between Bot River and Caledon has claimed the life of former Springbok fullback Gysie Pienaar’s daughter, the sister of another ex-Springbok, Ruan Pienaar.

Western Cape traffic chief Kenny Africa confirmed that a woman driving a VW Polo died in the head-on collision on Friday, which involved three other vehicles – two Mercedes trucks and a Hilux bakkie.

Messages of condolence started pouring in on social media after the death of mother-of-two Rene O'Ehley, 38, who lived with her financial adviser husband Edmund, 41, in Vredenburg. O'Ehley, who has an 8-year-old son and 10-year-old daughter, was a teacher at Bredasdorp Primary. Her brother Ruan, 34, is playing rugby in France.

Theuns Stoffberg, a former Springbok teammate of Gysie Pienaar, 64, told Netwerk24: "We heard about Rene's death from a group of former players who connect on WhatsApp, but don't know what happened. We sympathise with Gysie during these difficult times."

"She may not have been a Springbok herself, but she was a Springbok child. Everybody adored her. She was a Springbok in her own sense," Gysie said in describing his daughter.

Gysie spoke to René on the day before she died. He said he called his daughter at least three times per week to find out how she and her family were doing or to simply have a chat.

She and her mother Rida spoke as often as three to four times daily. 

"She'd call me for anything. She would be walking around in a shop and tell me: ‘Mum, I'm window shopping. I wish you were here'," Rida said.

"I got up yesterday and had some coffee… I'll probably never again have coffee without thinking of her."

Edmund O'hley said on Saturday he and his children were spending the day at De Doorns, where his son is playing cricket. 

"I think it takes a bit of the hurt away and occupies the thoughts on something else. We are all very sad."

Rene O'Ehley, the daughter of former Springbok Bok Gysie Pienaar dies in an accident at Botrivier, Western Cape. Photos: @TrafficSA @RapportSA15 Feb 2019

Condolences to families and friends. #SuperRugby pic.twitter.com/K7H2AiiTi3

— JG (Johan) van Zyl ✍ (@JGvanZyl_ZA) February 16, 2019

Rene O'Ehley, 38, lived with her financial adviser husband Edmund, 41, in Bredasdorp. Photo: Facebook

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