SO HAPPY TO BE HOME
Minki van der Westhuizen is delighted to be back in South Africa in time for Christmas with hubby Ernst Joubert and their tots Katerien and Elise
SHE’S usually the one in the spotlight, turning heads wherever she goes. But today two other little beauties command attention – her twoyearold and 16monthold daughters.
Model and TV presenter Minki van der Westhuizen doesn’t seem to mind – after all Katerien and Elise are the most precious things in her and husband Ernst Joubert’s lives. And she’s thrilled they’ll finally experience Christmas in the land of her and Ernst’s birth.
The Jouberts are back in South Africa after recently returning from the UK, where Ernst (35) spent six years playing for the English rugby club Saracens.
Minki (31) looks radiant when we visit the comfortable fourbedroom home in Stellenbosch where they now live. This year will be the first time in five years they’ll celebrate Christmas with family.
“It still hasn’t sunk in,” Minki says. “It’s wonderful to be back in South Africa. We never wanted to stay overseas forever. We want to raise our daughters here to enable them to enjoy our incredible country and grow up with their grandparents and family. Although they have British passports, which is fantastic for them, they’re still South Africans.”
LEAVING their friends behind in London was difficult but they’re happy to be home.
“We’ll miss the fast internet speed but we definitely won’t miss the weather,” Minki says. The couple are as loved up as ever after being married for three years. Errie, as Minki calls her husband, was her rock while they lived in St Albans near London. “He helped me with everything and is a handson dad.”
It’s clear he’s besotted with his girls and he sings Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star while his daughters pose in front of the camera with their mom, which results in peals of laughter and singing along.
Minki wants to give her daughters the kind of memorable Christmas she had as a child. She remembers how she and her brother, Ben (29), opened their presents together as a family. “Ben and I would dress up like Joseph and Mary and read from the Bible and sing carols.’’
But celebrating Christmas in England was delightful, she says. “Last year we had friends over for lunch. I prepared a lamb roast and delicious side dishes.”
Minki, who used to copresent lifestyle TV show Pasella, plans to get back into modelling and television work again.
Ernst has landed a oneyear contract with Remgro, which among other things has shares in Saracens. He starts work in January and will be involved in various departments, and may also contribute to rugby development.
She’s looking forward to having him home at weekends. “Before he used to play on weekends.”
Being a parent has changed her life, Minki says. “I like glitz and glamorous events but your children become your first priority. When it comes to things beyond my family, they’re just not as important to me any more.”
Their daughters have an “interesting relationship”, Minki says with a laugh. “They don’t yet play together as nicely as I’d hoped they would – but I think it will come as they’re attached to each other.”
Meanwhile, proud mom Minki loves to share photos of her girls on Instagram. “They’re so cute – I want to show the world how cute they are.”