‘I’d make the same choices’

12 Views

South African singer Karlien van Jaarsveld revealed that she would make the same choices all over again on this week’s episode of Laataand by Rian.

KARLIEN VAN JAARSVELD ON MAKING THE SAME CHOICES

South African singer Karlien van Jaarsveld revealed that if she could go back in time, she would make the same choices, on an episode of Rian van Heerden’s show Laataand by Rian.

On the episode, Karlien opened up about her time in Revolusie, an Afrikaans rock band, her divorce from former rugby player Derick Hougaard, her music career and her family.

Rian didn’t hold back, addressing the elephant in the room straight away by asking about her marriage to Derick.

“I think I have a need to help others change. My father is a beacon of hope for me. He was in a really bad place, caused a lot of damage, and then recovered. I believed there was hope, and I wanted to help Derick reach a place where he could choose himself. It cost a lot, but I decided I didn’t want my children to experience what I went through,” she said.

Karlien and Derick divorced in 2015. The pair have two children together Daniël and Elah.

KARLIEN VAN JAARSVELD DENIES SHE KEPT KIDS AWAY FROM DERICK HOUGAARD

Rian referred to the documentary series Hougaard: Liefling van Loftus, in which Derick claimed his children were kept from him. Karlien, however, said this isn’t true. She says he felt that way because he didn’t know how to be a father.

After her divorce, Karlien stayed with her equally famous brother, Bobby van Jaarsveld, for three months. During this time, her children started calling him “Dad”, as Derick didn’t make any contact.

“I never imagined it would turn out this way. I tried everything I could to encourage him to commit to being a father,” she said.

Despite the many tears and difficult times, Karlien still holds a place for Derick. “You never know when a relationship might be mended. There will always be room for him to return.”

Karlien also spoke about her daughter, Elah’s, health. In 2018, Elah was diagnosed with a life-threatening condition – a blood clot in the portal vein, which supplies blood to the liver, spleen, stomach and pancreas.

“There were so many things that had to happen for me to understand that verse. God says you must not only love your neighbour but also love your enemy as yourself. That’s why I truly love Derick, even if he doesn’t change. I have no expectations anymore. Seven months after this realisation, we took Elah for another scan of her abdomen, and the blood clot was gone.”