Racial conflict is often one of the main triggers for fights amongst learners at school, which is then often blown out of proportion by the media. The tragic events involving Stephan van der Merwe’s death three weeks ago reflect the opposite.

Best friend Chai Ngwerume says that Stephan’s brave attempt to put his life on the line for him (a black friend), is proof that friendship knows no colour. When Stephan stepped in to save Chai from being attacked, thereby causing his own death, there was no hesitance, no thought of Chai’s not being the same race as he was. In that instant, Stephan was not only a friend, he now became a hero.

The friendship between Chai and Stephan dates back to primary school. Chai could not speak the regional African languages and struggled to bond with the African guys in his grade. Gradually he became friends with a group of white boys, of which Stephan also formed a part. Together they formed a formidable friendship, doing everything: partying, fooling around and having fun together.

The sudden death of one of their fellow matriculants early this year was shocking but made them realize that it easily could have been any one of them. Still, they never thought it would ever happen to any one of them during their matric year.

Friendship is not about what you can gain, but about what you give. And when a friend sacrifices his life for a friend, the highest price of love is paid in honour of the friendship. To Chai, this is a heartbreaking thought, yet through this he has grown to know what the true meaning of friendship is and therefore Stephan will always be his brother, his friend, but most of all, his one true hero.