He wrote the lyrics to hundreds of South African songs recorded by some of the most popular artists including Sonja Herholdt, Rina Hugo, Gé Korsten, Carike Keuzenkamp, Bobby Angel, Robbie Klay, OTH, Joanna Field, Nadine and Patricia Lewis.
Two of his albums (Vat-Vat and Duet met Patricia Lewis) have gone platinum and five gold as a recording artist.
[3] Major media outlets Huisgenoot, You and Media24, defying the court's publication ban, were successfully sued by Els and eventually sanctioned and fined.
[citation needed] Els and his family moved back to New Zealand in March 2010 and they now live in Silverdale, Auckland on the North Island.
The family owned three properties in the Auckland area and spent a few years developing some land outside the historical village of Puhoi which Els is believed to have bought after a final court case/settlement.