He was born one of twin boys on 11th December 1910 in Napier. Their mother, Johanna Catharina Visagie, neé Germishuysen, died in childbirth. They were christened Willem Andries Visagie and Johan Visagie on 18th December 1910 at the DRC in Napier. Their mother's sister, Cornelia Gertruida du Plessis, 'adopted' Willem Andries, who was given the first name Willem for his biological father Willem Visagie, and the second name for his adopted father Andries M van Dyk, to whom the sister Cornelia was married at the time. The boy Willem Andries died shortly thereafter and Cornelia Getruida promptly adopted the second twin, Johan, but kept the family names Willem Andries for Johan. Years later when the details of the name swop emerged Willem Andries changed his names by adding the christian name Visagie - Willem Andries Visagie van Dyk. His nickname Gill was given him for some flop from school in bookkeeping where the fictitious company was called Gill & Co.
