Cape Town – Fans have been flooding social media with religious messages of support since news first broke on Monday night that Afrikaans singer Karlien van Jaarsveld and her husband, Derick Hougaard, would be separating.

The Strictly Come Dancing season 8 winner shocked everyone when she first broke the news on her Facebook page.

Karlien wrote: "For a long time now I’ve been thinking about how, where and when I would make this announcement. It would come out anyway, so I’ve decided to share the news myself. I am divorcing my husband. This is a difficult time for us and I hope that everyone that reads this respects that. Thank you for your love and support."

Karlien and Derick, former Springbok flyhalf, were married for two years and have two children, twins named Daniël and Eliah, together.

On Tuesday morning Karlien posted an Afrikaans motivational image on her Instagram page accompanied by a Bible verse.

The My Hartjie singer quoted 1 Samuel 17 verse 37: "David said moreover, The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the Lord be with thee."

- Channel24