Gavin Prins, Rapport

Johannesburg - Joost van der Westhuizen has thanked South Africa for all the support he has received.

The former Bok hero was still in the Sunninghill-hospital in Sandton on Saturday, after he was provisionally diagnosed with Motor Neuron Disease (MND).

"Thank you very much for all the messages of support and wishes I have received," he said in a statement issued by his spokesperson, Bidget van Oerle.

"Not only from South Africa, but from all over the world. I am overwhelmed by all the messages," says Van der Westhuizen.

Joost's estranged wife, Amor Vittone, took their two children, Jordan, 7 and 5-year-old Kylie, to the hospital to go and visit their dad on Saturday.

However, she left the hospital without them, probably to shield the children from the media.

Joost is in the hospital receiving treatment to try and strengthen his body's immunity.

He is also undergoing tests for a final diagnosis and to determine how advanced his MND is.

Vittone broke the news to the children on Thursday. "Dadda is very sick. His muscles are not working as they should," she explained to them.

She then later explained to Jordan again: "Daddy is seriously sick."

Vittone told Jacarabda 94.2 FM in a radio interview that it was like a "death sentence" when she heard of Van der Westhuizen's illness.