Riaan Cruywagen: The last broadcast

Cape Town – Veteran Afrikaans newsreader Riaan Cruywagen will be signing off for the last time tonight, marking exactly 37 years since he started working for the SABC.

Riaan, who announced his retirement at the beginning of November, will be reading his last bulletin on Monday at 19:00 on SABC2.

After nearly four decades in the broadcasting business, Riaan is looking forward to spending evenings at home with his family.

He told Beeld he believes he's already seven years over his retiring age and revealed that he's done over 7 000 television broadcasts.

"This means that I couldn't spend time with my family for at least 7 000 evenings, so I must say I'm looking forward to the evenings at home."

Riaan began his career as a journalist in 1965 when he started working part-time at the SABC in Cape Town and he presented his first news bulletin on 26 November 1975 at 20:00.

Riaan is also known for being the voice on then popular children's programme Haas Das se Nuuskas and has appeared on Who Do You Think You Are SA, the popular show that delves into one's family history and traces one's roots.

In 2011, Riaan appeared in an advert for the Loerie Awards (where he is chilling with some models in a jacuzzi), which has been viewed more than 63 000 times on YouTube.

*What will you miss most about this TV legend? Send us your Riaan tributes and get published!