De Villiers died at his home in Stellenbosch from natural causes aged 81. As scrumhalf, De Villiers played 25 test matches for the South African side. After retiring from rugby, he went into politics and became a member of Parliament between 1972-1977.
He was later appointed as South African Ambassador in London before returning back to politics on home soil and before retiring. “Dawie de Villiers is one of those maestros who went to represent apartheid South Africa as a captain and a most distinguished rugby player what distinguished him even more is when he became one of the apartheid ministers who participated in the echelons of the new peoples government. He went to serve a non racial democratic government under the presidency of our icon President Nelson Mandela.”His son, Coenie de Villiers, says he was a strong leader.
“I think one of the elements that very few people have highlighted is the fact that he served for eight years as a deputy director of world tourism organisation based in Madrid, and he campaigned for ethical tourism and programmes against child and sexual exploitation. So really, he was serving not only South Africa but probably the wider constituency.”
Im willing to be an errand boy, a gardener or any form of odd job just to feed my children🙏🏾. They've been going to sleep on an empty stomach and that cripples me as a father. I humbly ask for any tinned food or grocer you don't need🙏