Childhood friends reunite after 54 years
The two families had a beautiful reunion reminiscing on the good, old days.
IT was a bittersweet moment for childhood friends who were separated 54 years ago.
Westville resident Nanda Naicker said he and his siblings last saw Janice Edwards and her family in 1968 when his family was moved from Sarnia Road, Queensburgh when the Group Areas Act was initiated.
The act assigned racial groups to different residential and business sections in urban areas in a system of urban apartheid.
“For many years, I had wondered if Janice and her siblings were still alive. They were always in my mind as we were very close. Although we were not allowed to visit one another, we tried to see each other as much as we could.”
Naicker said the photo he was tagged in by a friend on his birthday helped Edwards locate him as she was also trying to get hold of Naicker and his siblings. “She saw the post and messaged me with her contact details.
“I am not a regular social media user, so I only saw her message two years after. I was sitting outside during load-shedding, scrolling my phone, when I saw her message. I tried to call her, but she had lost her phone. Eventually, I got hold of her son who gave me her contact details.”
Edwards, who now resides overseas, said she was also looking for Naicker and his siblings. “We lost touch many years ago – we all had a special friendship,” she said.
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Naicker and his family met up with Edwards and her family members at the King Shaka International airport and spent the day at Naicker’s home in Westville.
“It was emotional. I had lost hope that we would ever see each other again after so many years. It was a beautiful reunion reminiscing on the good, old days,” said Edwards.
Asked about their highlights growing up, Edwards said it was when Naicker sneaked out delicious curry for her and her siblings. “Our parents did not know the things we got up to; everything was done secretly,” she said with a laugh.
Naicker said he remembers the delicious mangoes that grew on the trees in Edwards’ home.
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