A woman has shared an insight into her relationship with a man who is double her age as they prepare to welcome their first child.
Estie Goosen and her husband, veteran singer Anton Goosen, have a 40-year age difference and have spent years battling nasty comments and judgement about their age gap.
Despite it all, the two are going strong and ready to welcome their first child together this year.
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The 41-year-old doesn’t understand why people make a big deal about her husband’s age, though it is something on their minds as they prepare for their new baby.
“Nothing is a given,” Estie, who is from Gansbaai, South Africa, told Need To Know.
“I have friends who died young in car accidents.
“Age and time are relative.
“There’ll be people around us who’ll help him, care for him and love him.”
The couple met in London in 2008, when Anton visited to perform and Estie was working as a security guard at a clothing store during a gap year.
The mum-to-be went to one of Anton’s shows and they got chatting, discovering they both had ties to Gansbaai, as he’d moved to the town a year earlier.
They stayed in touch via Facebook and when Estie returned to her hometown, they soon fell in love.
When they married after a nine-year relationship, people quickly began to gossip about the singer’s much younger third wife.
Estie said: “As soon as I say the number, that’s all people focus on.
“They won’t see how we care for each other day by day and do good things.
“People always assume he’s difficult or grumpy but he’s neither of those things.
“He learns new things and engages all the time and he has an amazing vocabulary and general knowledge.”
Despite the judgement, the two are going strong – and are now expecting a son soon.
For Anton, who already has two grown up daughters, it will be his first son, while this is Estie’s first child.
While she will soon have her hands full with the tot, Estie also cares for Anton somewhat – always having his eye drops on hand, as the medication and dark glasses are essential for his chronic dry eye condition.
The two live in an almost 140-year-old fisherman’s cottage, with a newly build upper floor that is due to house Anton’s music studio, and views of the harbour.
The couple initially only shared their baby news with family and friends, but it quickly became impossible to hide Estie’s baby bump by the time Anton’s 80th birthday party came round in March 2026.
While their party guests were thrilled for them, people on social media were not nearly so kind.
Estie says some of the comments caused her to have a “meltdown” as they were so nasty.
She said: “It’s awful, but fortunately we have unwavering support from all our friends and family – the people who love us and who know us.”
Anton and Estie share their home with two French bulldogs, Pampoentjie Pokkelpensie and Jantjie Harlekyntjie, and Jack Russell Tau, and the pooches have already sensed change is on the way.
The dad-to-be has been busy transforming their home in preparation for their son’s arrival in four months’ time.
He said: “We want to start playing Mozart for the baby.
“But he doesn’t have to grow up to be a musician.
“He doesn’t have to be a rugby player.
“He doesn’t have to play football for Manchester United.
“He must just be happy.
“He must just be a good person.
“He must love others.”
Anton and Estie are still deciding on a man for their son, but he’s sure of one thing – that he’ll raise his son “with a guitar in his hand.”
In fact, there’s already one waiting for him.
He’s looking forward to teaching his son to play cricket and football, but acknowledges that he’s not as young as he once was.
He added: “I’ll probably be able to kick a ball or two in his direction and see if he can kick it back.
“I’m still up, I’m still here and I’m still awake.
“There’s a beginning and an end and everything is transient but you must rejoice when there’s new life and new hope.”
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