Family and friends paid their last respects to Hugo van der Berg (51) during his memorial service at Kruik Gemeente on July 22. Pastor Ruben Kleynhans led the service.

Van der Berg was remembered as a man who loved animals, children and rugby, and who had a generous and caring heart.

“It is so unreal. I can’t believe he is gone. He wasn’t just an uncle to me; he was a friend, brother and mentor,” said his nephew, Vanya Ferreira.

Ferreira described Van der Berg as a loving spirit who never judged others.

“It didn’t matter if you came from the worst or the best. Everybody was equal to him. Human, filled with love and tragedy, and he recognised that in humanity,” he said.

Despite having very little himself, Van der Berg always made an effort to brighten the lives of children in his community.

Ferreira said he would buy sweets or lucky packets for local children every payday because he believed they were already facing enough hardship and deserved something to make them smile.

“He gave them what he never had when he was young,” Ferreira said.

ALSO READ: Stabbed learner from eMbalenhle discharged, faces long road to recovery

His niece, Ursula van der Berg, said the family is still struggling to come to terms with his death.

“We will miss his presence, friendliness, laugh and willingness to help,” she said.

According to Ridge Times’ sister newspaper, Pretoria Record, Van der Berg was last heard from shortly after the Springboks’ match against Scotland on July 11 but never returned to his vehicle.

Concern grew when he failed to return home, prompting his family to launch a desperate search.
On the evening of July 13, a missing-person poster was widely shared on social media.

Hours later, the family received the devastating confirmation that Van der Berg was the man whose body had been discovered near Loftes Versfeld on Lynnwood Road in Pretoria.

Van der Berg fell into an excavation at a nearby construction site at the corner of Lynnwood Road and Roper Street. Tshwane police spokesperson Captain Johan van Dyk said the matter remains under investigation.

“We are following up on all leads and awaiting the post-mortem report,” said Van Dyk.

ALSO READ: Theft of water meter valves places more stain on Secunda residents amid water outage

Social media readers had this to say:

Chantel Vorster: Ag hy was so vriendelike persoon

Louis Adelson: Worked with Hugo at Evander Gold Mine (Construction) many years back – he was our store, and I was a Safety Officer, a very friendly and good person, my only sympathy to his family and friends during this sad time.

Marie Moolman Stieger: Why was that hole not closed up?

Mark Schoombee: The sad thing is that the lower gate at Pretoria Boys High was locked and only unlocked more than an hour after the game ended, forcing those who had parked at the school (myself included) to walk through the construction site on Lynnwood Road to get back to our vehicles at the school grounds.

I walked past the scene and saw members of the public frantically administering CPR on the poor chap who appeared to have fallen into a deep trench. Very sad and unnecessary loss of life.

If only the gate had been unlocked timeously. RIP Sir.

Johan Rabblerouser van Niekerk: First, his phone got stolen at the match, and then he lost his life falling into a construction excavation on his way to his motor.