Marike and Tobias van Niekerk are the epitome of what Valentine’s Day means to anyone with a romantic bone in their body. From the minute they met, they both knew there was something exceptional about each other, and in true fairy-tale style, a flourishing friendship blossomed into more. And their adventure is just beginning.
The Van Niekerks believe that a marriage built on faith is bound to be as solid as a rock. “To us as a couple, being married means unity. God is at the centre of our marriage, and basing yours on the right principles makes things a little easier. No one said it would be a smooth ride!” Marike smiles. The arrival of baby Hailey in January 2020 was nothing short of a miracle. At only just over a year old – she turned one on January 2 – she already has her dad wrapped around her little finger.
It wasn’t easy though, and Marike suffered two miscarriages before the arrival of this little blessing. “Hailey is our miracle, rainbow baby,” she says. “Our journey to becoming parents was challenging and I know there are so many couples out there who have a difficult one. It has been among the most traumatic experiences I have had to endure. There is nothing anyone can say to make you feel better. I realised I needed to let go and give it to God. He gave me the strength to carry on. Hailey absolutely adores her dad, her first word was ‘Dadda’ and when she opens her eyes in the morning, she calls for him. Truly a daddy’s girl!”
The happy couple are expecting their second child soon, and their excitement is palpable. After their journey of fertility issues and heartbreak, to be blessed with another child this soon is a blessing indeed. The age gap between the two children will be 18 months, meaning that life is bound to become quite chaotic, but nothing the Van Niekerks won’t take in their stride. Tobias laughs as he says he knows life is about to become somewhat action-packed, but balance is always key. “Our goal is to find a well-established equilibrium, always ensuring we spend enough time together as a couple. It is important to us, and we know it is essential to our family’s well-being to keep our marriage strong – and of course to keep the romance going!”
One of their favourite ways to spend time together is relaxing at home. The pair absolutely adore their home, and quality time spent there is important. They love going to the Kruger Park and go as often as possible. Marike says their favourite camping spot is Shingwedzi. Before Hailey was born they would go regularly. “I can honestly say we have made some of our absolute best memories there,” she says. “And our little Hailey is already showing her love of the outdoors and the animals,” smiles Tobias.
Being a qualified special needs teacher, children are one of Marike’s greatest passions, evidenced by her joy in helping little kids towards developmental milestones. At the moment, she is focused on staying at home to look after her own brood, and indulging another great love; fashion and pretty things. “Fashion and clothing have always been a great passion of mine, and it has always been a dream to have a clothing line of my own. As many women know, it is often so difficult to find something perfect, something that suits your body type and style.” Marike’s business venture goes by the utterly charming name of Pepperpink, a clothing line still very much in the beginning stages. “There were a number of challenges that popped up in 2020, preventing me from going forward. However, 2021 is the year I intend to get my business off the ground and running! I also have a dream to open up my own school for little ones. I know there is a great demand for preschools with moms going back to work. I would love to offer a safe and happy environment.”
While Marike is busy building her glorious empire, Tobias has also been keeping busy. He is a shareholder of an emergency medical The happy couple on their wedding day company (Africa SAFE-T – Safari and Adventure Focused Emergency Team) that operates in the southern areas of Africa. His role as COO is to ensure all daily operations run smoothly and that staff follow company procedures and protocols.
“Our focus is primarily on our remote wilderness clients where we have emergency care practitioners providing on-site medical care and incident management to guests and staff,” says Toby. “My studies and background are specifically in high-performance team sports. After a successful career in the strength and conditioning department at Moroka Swallows Football Club as well as the Pumas rugby team, I had to decide which way my future was heading.”
At that stage, Tobias had previously worked for Africa SAFE-T. He made the decision to go back into the medical field which is where his passion lies. “I do thrive in finding solutions in difficult situations, which is our area of expertise. Ultimately,” he smiles, “I want to lead by example in the remote medicine industry.”
Lockdown may have put a hold on a few of this young couple’s plans for the future, but it’s nothing they can’t handle. “At the end of the day, we have each other and that’s really all that matters,” says Tobias. Marike adds that learning to appreciate the small things in life, not taking anything for granted, and putting time and energy into each other makes for a very happy home indeed.
