Happiness At Last After So Much Grief
YOU South Africa|10 December 2020
After losing three loved ones in a house fire, Christelle is finally picking up the pieces of her life and has found love
Franco Havenga
Happiness At Last After So Much Grief

The little boy peeks into the lounge of his grandmother’s Pretoria home. “I think he senses what we’re talking about,” Christelle Nagel whispers once he’s left the room.

Before long Theo pops his head around the door again, shooting a glance at his gran. The five-year-old is clearly very attached to her and it’s easy to understand why – she’s the closest thing he has to a mother now.

Christelle (48) and Theo are the only survivors of a devastating fire that killed three members of their family. Christelle lost her husband, Theo Sr (54), her daughter, Nicolene Pretorius (23), and her granddaughter, Leoné (2), when the blaze gutted their Centurion home in 2018.

Leoné, Theo’s little sister, was declared dead at the scene. His mom, Nicolene, and Theo Sr were rushed to hospital with severe burn wounds, where they later died.

The reason Theo survived, Christelle says, is because Nicolene managed to get him to safety by passing him through a window before the flames engulfed her.

Almost two years after the fire robbed her of her home and her family, Christelle has started to rebuild her life and is now in a new relationship. “After all this immense grief, I’ve found happiness again,” she tells us.

Another Christmas without her family is fast approaching, she’s trying to focus on the positives and cherish the loved ones she still has.

She met Morné Bothma, a truck driver, through a mutual friend just before lockdown. The couple hit it off and moved in together in Pretoria.

Esta historia es de la edición 10 December 2020 de YOU South Africa.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

Esta historia es de la edición 10 December 2020 de YOU South Africa.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

MÁS HISTORIAS DE YOU SOUTH AFRICAVer todo
HOW TO BE YOUR OWN THERAPIST
YOU South Africa

HOW TO BE YOUR OWN THERAPIST

With more and more of us struggling with our mental health, here's a common-sense guide to coping with life's ups and downs

time-read
5 minutos  |
5 December 2024
SPUD: THE MAGIC CONTINUES
YOU South Africa

SPUD: THE MAGIC CONTINUES

John van de Ruit tells us why he decided to write a sequel - and shares how his first book helped him find enduring love

time-read
5 minutos  |
5 December 2024
SEX CONTRACT GONE WRONG
YOU South Africa

SEX CONTRACT GONE WRONG

A Cape Town couple have been charged with using a young woman as a sex slave-but some say she lost the job she signed up for and now has a grudge against them

time-read
4 minutos  |
5 December 2024
LIAM LAID TO REST
YOU South Africa

LIAM LAID TO REST

More than a month after One Direction singer LIAM PAYNE (31) tragically fell to his death from a balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina, his loved ones finally got to say their goodbyes.

time-read
1 min  |
5 December 2024
SHILOH HANGS OUT
YOU South Africa

SHILOH HANGS OUT

THE two young women look like any pair of good friends chatting and laughing as they leave their dance class in Los Angeles.

time-read
1 min  |
5 December 2024
LEO IN LOVE
YOU South Africa

LEO IN LOVE

He's just turned 50 and it seems Leonardo DiCaprio may finally be ready to settle down

time-read
3 minutos  |
5 December 2024
PACKING A PUNCH
YOU South Africa

PACKING A PUNCH

Irish actor Paul Mescal beefed up for his role in the blockbuster epic Gladiator II - and fans are loving it

time-read
4 minutos  |
5 December 2024
I DIDN'T CHOOSE TO BE A LOVE CHILD
YOU South Africa

I DIDN'T CHOOSE TO BE A LOVE CHILD

As the illegitimate daughter of the king, she fought to be recognised as part of Belgium's royal family, but Princess Delphine says she still feels unwelcome

time-read
5 minutos  |
5 December 2024
'I STILL HAVE NIGHTMARES'
YOU South Africa

'I STILL HAVE NIGHTMARES'

A bite from a spitting cobra 13 years ago nearly killed her but Mikayla survived - and she's made peace with her scars

time-read
4 minutos  |
5 December 2024
THE CLAWS ARE OUT!
YOU South Africa

THE CLAWS ARE OUT!

Things have grown frosty between the Beckhams and the Sussexes as Becks comes out in clear support of William

time-read
7 minutos  |
5 December 2024