Mike Wittstock extols good old SA virtues

A week ago Mike Wittstock was nervously preparing his speech for his daughter's wedding.

Any father-of-the-bride will attest to the pressures of speaking at such an event - but the burly dad from Benoni had the added weight of talking at a reception attended by heads of state, celebrities and royals, including French President Nicolas Sarkozy and supermodel Naomi Campbell.

So, Wittstock told the Sunday Times, he decided he would keep it "straight and simple" while boosting South Africa's image.

On Friday night, at the reception on the terraces of the Opera Garnier, Wittstock told the royal couple to remember Charlene's roots and raise their future children with "typical South African values" - and with discipline and respect for others.

Shortly after Charlene became Princess of Monaco the beaming dad said: "It feels like we've just won the World Cup!"

He said in his speech that the couple should be proud of Charlene's heritage and take the best of her local culture and incorporate it into their new life together.

He said South African children were taught about discipline and, with his daughter a successful swimmer and Olympian, he hoped this would play a big part in their family life.

Mike is a born-and-bred South African and avid Cheetahs rugby fan. His wife, Lynette, is from Zimbabwe.

He said: "In South Africa we teach our children to show respect to others and to their elders. With discipline and hard work we can achieve anything and I hope this is something everyone here will remember."

Even a close brush with death in February this year, when he was hijacked at the family home in Rynfield, Benoni, did not stop him from singing the praises of his home country.

International media picked up on the story, saying this would force the Wittstocks to make the permanent move to crime-free Monaco.

But Mike told the Sunday Times: "We are just normal, ordinary people. I like our life in Benoni. This is where we raised our kids. It will always be home."

Former teachers have revealed in recent weeks how they felt Charlene missed out on a "normal childhood" because of her swimming.

One said: "She never did the normal things with the other children like going to the movies. She was always in training, at the swimming pool or going to a competition.

"Her dad was the real driving force behind her success. He pushed his children to be the best and to excel. He could be quite a difficult man but he pushed them and demanded discipline. Thanks to that, she became the athlete she was and that's how she met her prince."

Another teacher said Charlene's mother Lynette, had always had a special bond with her daughter.