The Ekurhuleni South Darts Association (ESDA) and the wider Alberton and Rosettenville community are mourning the loss of Hermanus Albertus ‘Bertie’ Deysel.

He was a respected darts player, mentor, family man and community protector who passed away on July 9 after a brief battle with stage four pancreatic cancer.

Born on May 26, 1968, Bertie spent much of his childhood moving around Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal as his father was a boilermaker and travelled the country for work.

He later settled in South Hills, where he met his future wife, Patsy, while they were still in high school.
The couple married in December 1990 and welcomed their son, Hugo Deysel, the following year.

After living in Regents Park and Turffontein, they settled in Rosettenville in 1994, where they remained for nearly three decades before relocating to Florentia in Alberton in 2023.

According to Hugo, Rosettenville was where his father became a well-known and respected figure.

“My father always wanted to help others around us and keep them protected. This was his modus operandi for the 30 years that we spent in Rosettenville,” he said.

Known for patrolling the neighbourhood in the early hours of the morning, often dressed in a blue gown and plakkies with a sjambok in hand, Bertie earned a reputation for helping keep the streets safe and looking out for those around him.

The family’s move to Florentia marked the beginning of a new chapter, one they hoped would provide a safer environment for future generations.

“My father and mother decided that a future with grandchildren would not have been fitting in Rosettenville and decided to start the next chapter of our lives in Florentia, a calmer area with wider roads and more lighting,” Hugo explained.

Outside of his family, Bertie was passionate about hard work.

Hugo described him as someone who never stopped moving, spending his days doing maintenance and labour before returning home to fix and improve anything that needed attention.

“There wasn’t a moment’s rest, not even when fishing or playing darts,” he said.

Darts, however, became much more than a hobby.

Bertie started playing competitively around 1997, progressing from the Johannesburg South house league to representing his district at national level.

He later earned Gauteng B colours in the Quadrangular tournaments during the late 2000s.

He also became a respected mentor, helping develop numerous players throughout his career.
Among those he mentored were two players who went on to represent South Africa as Proteas – his son, Hugo, and Shawn Hogan.

His generosity extended beyond the oche.

Hugo recalled how his father regularly opened his home to players travelling from across the country, offering accommodation and support without expecting anything in return.

“It would be an understatement to say that he helped hundreds of friends and family, even people he had only just met,” he said.

One of Hugo’s fondest memories came when he threw the first official nine-darter in the Gauteng Darts Championships.

“My father’s eyes were glowing with pride. His smile was wider than I had ever seen. It was as if he was saying, ‘Look what I have made.”

The family received devastating news on June 18 when Bertie was diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer, just three days after the birth of his grandson, Alexander Deysel.

“It was a blessing to have them meet each other before my father was called,” Hugo said.

Reflecting on his father’s life, Hugo said their family’s greatest wealth was never measured in money, but in the love they shared.

“We always believed we were the wealthiest family on the planet, not from money or status, but the love and bond we shared. We have now lost a huge chunk of our wealth, but we remain blessed and rich with love.”

He said his father would continue to guide the family through the values he instilled.

“If anyone could put their name on something they did with pride, it was my father.”

Bertie is survived by his wife, Patsy, his son, Hugo, his daughter-in-law, Roxanne Kal, his grandson, Alexander, and a large extended family and circle of friends.

His legacy also lives on through the many players he mentored and the lasting impact he made on the darts community and the countless lives he touched.