Nadine, the on/off girlfriend of Derick Hougaard, has been keeping the public updated on his health condition as he lies in a coma in the Steve Biko Academic Hospital.
She’s been by his side in the ICU ward and has even asked for prayers for him to make a full recovery.
But is the dutiful girlfriend or just a concerned friend?
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DERICK HOUGAARD AND NADINE RELATIONSHIP HISTORY
Derrick and Nadine began dating in 2018. This followed his profile divorce from ex-wife Karlien van Jaarsveld in 2015.
The couple would make their first red carpet appearance together at the Miss South Africa pageant later that year. Derick and Nadine would also make regular features on each other’s social media accounts.
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“She’s a piece of gold. There aren’t many or any more girls like that left”, he told Huisgenoot.
He added: “She has already had 300 reasons to run away. I think it is especially tough when someone knows what you are capable of, and the chains just don’t want to break.”
THAT HOTEL ROOM SAGA
In March 2019, Huisgenoot magazine published pictures of Derick Hougaard seemingly in bed with a blonde woman – who was not his brunette girlfriend, Nadine.
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According to News24, Nadine confirmed that she had discovered Derick in bed with the mystery woman in a hotel room. She also revealed that she was “beyond broken.” Derick also spoke to the publication but denied cheating on Nadine. Instead, he claimed he was “heavily under the influence” and could not remember much from the night.
Days later, Rapport made conflicting claims that Nadine did not find Derick in bed with another woman, according to her spokesperson Janis Ellis. According to Ellis, Nadine and Derick had “patched up their broken relationship.”
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In May 2021, Nadine publicly supported Derick’s charity boxing match against singer Francois van Coke. According to The Citizen, the couple appeared happily in love at a friend’s wedding in September that year.
BREAKUP UP AND MAKE UP?
In February 2022, Nadine hinted at ending her roller-coaster relationship with Derick Hougaard.
She reportedly wrote in a since-deleted social media post: “Four years. Six months. 20 days. It’s over. Final.” The post was removed hours later.
According to Huisgenoot, Derick responded to the break-up rumours saying: “I don’t know. I suppose. I don’t know. I can’t talk right now…”
In May 2022, Derick hinted that he had been “framed” over the hotel room saga. In a Facebook post, he shared: “I was framed for doing something I did not do”.
@derickhougaard
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He added: “Money I have lost is probably gone forever, but God will provide. The time is now. Sitting back, why did they destroy your name that you have worked for 20 years?”
Derrick also hinted at his past scandals, adding: “I also made mistakes in my life and went through tough times. And have been honest. But being honest sometimes you get more flack. But this is who I am”.
Apart from this week, Nadine’s last Facebook post with Derick was in September 2021, while Derick last posted a picture with her on his Facebook account in April 2021
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DID DERICK HOUGAARD AND NADINE RECENTLY REKINDLE THEIR ROMANCE?
According to Rapport, Nádine and Derick were last seen together at her sister’s birthday party earlier this month.
But are they friends or lovers?
A source told the publication: “No one is sure exactly where they stand with each other. Both Derick and Nadine tell friends they each live on their own but visit each other again and again.
The source added: “They fought together to get through a lake of fire that other people put in front of them with interference and lies. People can learn from them about true caring”.
