Edwill van Aarde

Edwill van Aarde (20 December 1938 – 3 January 2024) was a South African television and radio broadcaster and sports commentator. He was the presenter and commentator with the longest uninterrupted service at any broadcaster in South Africa, 50 years (in 2011).^[1]

Edwill van Aarde was born on 20 December 1938 in Kimberley, South Africa.^[2] He grew up in Boetsap.^[3] He attended Vaalharts Primary school and Diamantveld High School,^[2] where he matriculated in 1957. He was married to Piena Margeretha Forbes Ochse. Edwill van Aarde died on 3 January 2024, at the age of 85.^[4]

Van Aarde broadcast 517 cricket games, 134 Rugby matches, 12 Comrades marathons, and 5 Wimbledon men's tennis finals.^[2][5]

Van Aarde presented the radio program Afrikaans treffers, which translated means "the biggest hits in South Africa". This was a music program which played the biggest hits from all over the world. This program was 40 years old in 2015.^[6][7]

Van Aarde was the presenter of Flinkdink ("Fast Thinking”), a general knowledge quiz program. He was later also the organiser and researcher of the program.^[8]

Van Aarde was attacked in his home in Krugersdorp on 29 March 2010. He survived the attack.^[9]