Publications
Partners
Cape Town - Irene van Wyk, the Afrikaans singer who sang mostly gospel music, died in a car crash on the Delmas road near Bronkhorstspruit on Tuesday afternoon.
Her car was involved in a head-on collision with a truck. She died instantly. One of her own gospel albums was in the car's CD player at the time of the crash.
Van Wyk was formerly married to music promoter Louis van Wyk.
Apart from her singing, Van Wyk in recent months also became known countrywide as a presenter on the kykNET programme Glitterati, which is broadcast on Saturday evenings.
She had a drinking problem for years, which she discussed openly. After undergoing treatment for the problem, she did not drink alcohol for a long time. Recently, however, she had to be admitted to a rehabilitation centre for treatment again.
She did not appear on Glitterati during that time. Upon her return three weeks ago, she stated that she'd fallen off the wagon but had also recovered again.
Louis van Wyk identified her remains at the police mortuary in Bronkhorstspruit.
"I've just come from the mortuary. My heart is broken and it hurts. Irene and I were married for 14 years and she's the mother of my children (Vaughn and Irene). Although we divorced 11 years ago, I was still her manager and we spoke to each other every single day, until yesterday (Tuesday)," he said.
Singer Kurt Darren, a long-time friend of both Van Wyks, said on Tuesday afternoon that he initially thought the SMS he received about Irene's death was bogus.
"Last week someone spread an SMS rumour that I had died in a crash."
When Beeld assured him that it was indeed true, he said the news made him very sad.
"She had an incredibly strong voice. We sang a duet together, and she was great. My sincere sympathy to Louis and their two children."
Funeral arrangements will be announced at a later stage.
Her car was involved in a head-on collision with a truck. She died instantly. One of her own gospel albums was in the car's CD player at the time of the crash.
Van Wyk was formerly married to music promoter Louis van Wyk.
Apart from her singing, Van Wyk in recent months also became known countrywide as a presenter on the kykNET programme Glitterati, which is broadcast on Saturday evenings.
She had a drinking problem for years, which she discussed openly. After undergoing treatment for the problem, she did not drink alcohol for a long time. Recently, however, she had to be admitted to a rehabilitation centre for treatment again.
She did not appear on Glitterati during that time. Upon her return three weeks ago, she stated that she'd fallen off the wagon but had also recovered again.
Louis van Wyk identified her remains at the police mortuary in Bronkhorstspruit.
"I've just come from the mortuary. My heart is broken and it hurts. Irene and I were married for 14 years and she's the mother of my children (Vaughn and Irene). Although we divorced 11 years ago, I was still her manager and we spoke to each other every single day, until yesterday (Tuesday)," he said.
Singer Kurt Darren, a long-time friend of both Van Wyks, said on Tuesday afternoon that he initially thought the SMS he received about Irene's death was bogus.
"Last week someone spread an SMS rumour that I had died in a crash."
When Beeld assured him that it was indeed true, he said the news made him very sad.
"She had an incredibly strong voice. We sang a duet together, and she was great. My sincere sympathy to Louis and their two children."
Funeral arrangements will be announced at a later stage.
