The family of Cape Town cricket legend Saaiet Magiet who passed away in Malaysia this week are in the process of repatriating his body to be buried in Cape Town. The 66 year old all-rounder died after a sudden heart attack while on holiday on one of the islands off the mainland. His body was flown to the mainland on Tuesday afternoon and assessed by doctors at a local hospital. The family said his body would most likely be flown back on Saturday and no janazah arrangements have been confirmed as yet.
Magiet captained the non-racial SA Cricket Board in 1987 and 1991 and is considered one of the top coloured sportsmen during apartheid.
His brother Rushdie Magiet, a former Proteas chairman of selectors, said that he was very fast and knew how to get a wicket. He described him as any team’s dream player.
“He was an amazing fielder and a batsman and he would have made South Africa very proud as a national player. If I think back he was one of the best all-rounders of our time. It’s really sad that our country’s national team missed this exceptional player,” said Magiet.
Magiet is also a stalwart of the Primrose Cricket club in Lansdowne, where he excelled from 1971 to 1991.
In his Western Province first-class career, he had taken 170 wickets at an average 12.79 in a career spanning from 1971-1991.
He was one of three players to score more than 2000 runs (2296) with Seraj Gabriels (2040) and Munsoor Abdullah (2198) being the other two batsmen. He is considered the most capped player with 63 appearances and was called ‘The player of the Board era’.
But besides his remarkable talent on the cricket pitch, Magiet also had a flair for rugby and played as a flank and No. 8.
Born and bred in Claremont, he attended Spes Bona High School in Athlone. While there, he attained his Western Province Senior Schools colours in rugby.
Rushdie said the Prime Minster of Malaysia has been assisting the family to arrange the body returned to South Africa. The family had to wait on the autopsy to be completed, which could only be done on one of the neighbouring islands.
Meanwhile, a myriad of Cape Town-based cricket clubs and cricketers have expressed their condolences on social media.
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=10156556210824861&id=183016234860
https://www.facebook.com/rylands.cricketclub/posts/210057459694661
My Hero, Icon and childhood hero May you RIP. Fond memories in conversation and either Rugby or cricket arena. I salute you Saait Magiet true Legend 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/fVynm1snf7
— Faiek Davids (@FaiekDavids1) July 17, 2018
I’m absolutely gutted at the news that one of my sporting heroes, Saait Magiet has passed away. R.I.P my friend. #legend
— Vincent Barnes (@VincentBarnes60) July 17, 2018
The family said that they will only inform the public of the janazah details after they have received the body of the deceased. VOC
