Mandela pays tribute to Cronje

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Fond memories of Cronje will always be tainted by scandal

Obituary

The body of Hansie Cronje, South Africa's tarnished former cricket captain, was airlifted yesterday from the rubble of the light cargo aircraft in which he was killed.

The unidentified pilot and co-pilot, who were friends of Mr Cronje, also died when the plane crashed into a mountain while circling near the airport at George, in Western Cape, during bad weather early on Saturday. The three bodies were taken to a morgue, where Mr Cronje was identified by his brother.

South Africa is in shock at the death of the former captain, who was banned from cricket two years ago after admitting to having accepted match-fixing bribes.

President Thabo Mbeki and his predecessor, Nelson Mandela, joined those offering condolences. Mr Mandela said: "He was a young man, courageously and with dignity, rebuilding his life after the setback he suffered."

Investigators have found the flight data recorder. But a spokesman for the Civil Aviation Authority said the hunt for the voice recorder had been called off because of winds, and would resume today.