Well-known and highly popular singer Bles Bridges (53) was killed in a freak car accident outside Bloemhof on March 24 while driving home to Vereeniging after a concert in Jan Kempdorp. It is believed he may have fallen asleep at the wheel when the car veered out of control, rolling and crushing him to death. With him was his wife Leonie who had also been his stage manager throughout his successful career. She survived unharmed except for bruises and lacerations.

Having sold 1.4 million records, Bles Bridges had a wide appeal to Afrikaans-speaking audiences. One of South Africa’s most successful recording artists, he was the first local performer to sell out at the Sun City Superbowl.