LOVING BEING BACK IN JOZI

Lee-Ann and Nicky have no regrets about returning to Gauteng a year ago – and they have big plans for 2020

- GABISILE NGCOBO

THE sky is grey and rain is bucketing down but there’s a cosy, festive atmosphere inside the stylish home of one of South Africa’s best known couples.

A huge Christmas tree stands tall in the hallway, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafts from the kitchen and children’s laughter fills the air.

“We aren’t going to school for 35 days!” five-year-old Bella informs us – just as her mother emerges from upstairs in a shimmering jumpsuit and starts to walks down the stairs in her sky-high stilettos.

Lee-Ann Liebenberg (37) and husband Nicky van der Walt (39) recently celebrated the first anniversary of their return to Johannesburg with Bella and big sister Gia (9) and they couldn’t be happier.

The couple had a rough time in 2018 while based in Cape Town and found it a relief to return to the city of gold.

“I love Joburg,” Lee-Ann says. “We’re back with our friends and family.” They’ve settled into their new home in Sandton and although they miss their house near the beach and the beautiful Mother City, “nothing else matters as long as we’re together”, Lee-Ann says.

THEY decided to return to Gauteng for both business and personal reasons.

“I lost my dad and getting over that . . . ” Lee-Ann trails off.

Her dad, Allen (67), died in 2018, having battled cancer and other health issues, including a blood clot in his stomach that doctors weren’t able to remove and which led to his death.

Nicky and Lee-Ann want to put their unhappy Cape Town chapter behind them and focus on the positive – and that includes their new business venture.

“Ironically enough, the idea came because of our parents,” Nicky says. At a Sunday lunch 18 months ago he overheard his father, Frans (72), chatting to Lee-Ann’s ailing dad.