GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - The South Western Districts (SWD) cricket community is mourning the loss of three respected members, including the former administrator and educator Gerry Gertse (62), whose decades of service to the game helped shape cricket in the region.

Gertse, promising young cricketer Diego Wessels and long-serving Union Stars member Chris Andries were remembered for their dedication, passion and lasting contribution to the sport.

Gertse passed away on 25 June. A former educator, he served as principal of Bontebok Primary School in Swellendam before later taking up the position of principal at Garden Route Primary School in Mossel Bay.

Gertse devoted many years to cricket administration. He served as secretary of the SWD Cricket Board from 1995 to 1999 and, following the establishment of SWD Cricket as a non-profit company in July 2014, became a non-independent member of its board of directors.

His involvement in the sport also extended onto the field. Gertse played for the Sussex Cricket Club before later serving as an executive committee member and chairperson.

SWD Cricket’s CEO, Albertus Kennedy, described Gertse as a respected administrator whose calm and measured approach earned him widespread admiration. “I had the privilege to serve with Gerry in both instances, both at the former SWD Cricket Board, when we were members of the executive committee, and again in 2014, when he served as a director,” said Kennedy.

“He had a calm and collected approach in meetings, something that is often needed during heated debates, and for that he earned great respect.”

Kennedy said Gertse’s mature leadership style and ability to contribute meaningfully at board and executive level would be remembered by all those who worked alongside him.

After a further blow to the regional cricket fraternity, SWD Cricket also paid tribute to Diego Wessels, a learner of Sao Bras Secondary School in Mossel Bay, who died on Saturday evening, 27 June.

Diego Wessels

Wessels was a cricketer at the D’Almeida Cricket Hub in Mossel Bay and was regarded as one of the area’s promising young talents. He represented the Garden Route Badgers U16 team at the Cricket SA boys’ U19 national tournament in Paarl in December 2025.

The union also honoured Chris Andries, a long-serving member of the Union Stars Cricket Club in Oudtshoorn, who passed away on 26 June following an illness.

Chris Andries

SWD Cricket extended its heartfelt condolences to the families, friends, teammates and clubs affected by the losses, acknowledging the significant contributions each made to cricket in the Garden Route and Karoo region.

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