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October 22, 2024
Even if you don’t agree with the views on the afterlife held by Hansie Cronje and Ray McCauley, it’s intriguing to imagine what they might have discussed if they had met recently. They hadn’t communicated in over 20 years, so there would have been a lot to talk about.
This brings us into a philosophical realm. Cronje tragically died in a plane crash in the Outeniqua Mountains in June 2002 at the young age of 32. McCauley passed away last Tuesday at his home in Johannesburg, just a week after turning 75, though the cause of his death has not been revealed.
Both Cronje and McCauley were significant public figures in South Africa and were known for their strong Christian faith. Cronje was influenced by the American-style evangelism that McCauley preached at his Rhema Bible Church in Johannesburg. Kepler Wessels, who was Cronje’s predecessor as captain of the South African cricket team, introduced his players to McCauley during a Test match against India in November 1992. When Cronje became captain in November 1994, McCauley grew close enough to the team to be seen as their unofficial chaplain.
The relationship between cricketer Hansie Cronje and cleric Ray McCauley grew so strong that Cronje would sometimes visit McCauley at his home and stay overnight. When Cronje considered resigning due to the United Cricket Board‘s transformation policies, the board asked McCauley to persuade him to reconsider. Therefore, in the early hours of April 11, 2000, Cronje turned to McCauley again, sending him a handwritten letter via fax.
It read, in part: “In a moment of stupidity and weakness I allowed Satan and the world to dictate terms to me. I feel that I can bring something good out of all this. I have been a role model for many people in South Africa and this was a lesson for all of you out there: when Satan comes knocking on the door, always keep your eyes on the Lord [sic] Jesus Christ and ask him to protect you from any wrong. The moment I took my eyes off Jesus, my whole world turned dark and it felt like someone had stuck a knife through my chest.”
Cronje had spent the previous four days strenuously denying he was involved in fixing. Among those who believed him was McCauley, who told the Citizen newspaper at the time: “Because I know Hansie as a person of integrity I cannot believe he would be party to any such allegation.”
The Delhi police reported that they had recorded conversations between Hansie Cronje and individuals involved in illegal cricket gambling. While transcripts of these conversations were made public, the actual tapes have never been released. After Cronje eventually confessed, he was banned from cricket for life, making the tapes unnecessary.
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Five months before his death, Cronje took a job as a financial manager at an earth-moving equipment company. He was well-qualified, holding a Bachelor of Commerce degree and studying for a Master’s in Business Administration. However, many questioned the decision to give someone with his past access to financial responsibilities.
This perspective is understandably critical. On the other hand, one could argue that, with time, Cronje might have been allowed to return to cricket after the pain and anger caused by his actions had diminished. A parallel can be drawn with Mohammad Azharuddin, whose life ban for match-fixing was lifted by the Andhra Pradesh High Court in November 2012, nearly 12 years after it was imposed. In September 2019, Azharuddin was elected president of the Hyderabad Cricket Association.
The former Indian captain serves as an interesting example in this context. Hansie Cronje testified at the King Commission in June 2000 that Mohammad Azharuddin introduced him to illegal bookmaker Mukesh Gupta after four days of a Test match in Kanpur in December 1996. Azharuddin denied this allegation and, unlike Cronje, maintained his innocence throughout his ban.
Regardless of the truth behind their claims, it is known that Gupta paid Cronje $30,000 to ensure that South Africa lost the match. It seemed like easy money; on the final day, South Africa had lost five wickets—Cronje among them—and needed another 334 runs to win. They ultimately lost the game. The question arises: why would Gupta offer such a payout if he didn’t need to intervene? The answer lies in the fact that Gupta viewed it as an investment. He knew that once Cronje was compromised, he could manipulate him for future schemes.
Cronje’s desire for money likely fueled his willingness to be dishonest, which might explain why he and McCauley connected so easily from the beginning. McCauley, a former nightclub bouncer and bodybuilder who placed third in the Tall Class 1 category at the 1974 Mr. Universe competition in London, was open about preaching the “prosperity gospel.” He told his congregation that God would bless them with wealth.
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Ray McCauley was a prime example of a lavish lifestyle. He drove expensive cars and motorcycles, owned multiple homes, and mingled with influential figures, including Nelson Mandela. His church, a purpose-built auditorium seating 5,000, became increasingly grand, even featuring a helipad. One might wonder what Jesus would have done if such luxuries were available to him when he, allegedly, ascended to heaven.
Like Cronje, McCauley was not always truthful. After founding his church in 1979, during the height of apartheid, he advertised in newspapers with the slogan, “If you’re tired of politics in the pulpit, come to us.” This was in stark contrast to other Christian denominations, particularly the Methodists, who were vocal opponents of the apartheid regime.
McCauley urged FW de Klerk, the last president of apartheid-era South Africa, to reform the system rather than abolish it. He once labeled Mandela a terrorist, demanding that Mandela clarify whether he was a communist or a Christian. However, once apartheid ended in April 1994, McCauley quickly aligned himself with the new government and maintained those connections for the rest of his life. If his stated principles didn’t appeal to someone, he was quick to offer alternatives.
Should the afterlife indeed have thrust Cronje and McCauley together, they might have exchanged a look of shock. And one might have said to the other: “How in hell did we end up in the same place?”
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