Two friends who had not seen each other in 60 years, shook hands again in Louis Trichardt last week.

Arvind Dave (79) and Kanoobhai Patel (77) were close friends in high school in Johannesburg from 1945 to 1952. In 1952, Kanoobhai left South Africa to marry and to take up a job in Zambia. He later moved to Canada and lost all contact with his good friend Arvind.

Last week, the two friends met up again in Louis Trichardt, when Kanoobhai arrived after having re-established contact through an acquintance in Canada, who had recently visited family in Louis Trichardt.

They exchanged fond memories about “those years” when they had to walk long distances to school, because they were not allowed to travel on the city tramways. They proudly remember their segregated school attaining top results alongside the best in the city and the fun they had after school playing tennis at a “native” club.

They were originally four inseparable school pals. The other two have passed away in the meantime.

Arriving back in Johannesburg, Kanoobhai was able to take pictures of, amongst others, the old building in which his family had stayed. “We paid one pound rent in those years,” he smiled. The building in the central city is now part of a heritage site.

Arvind paged through his family file and produced a news clipping about his father, J R Dave, who arrived in South Africa in 1907 and, in 1940, was the first Indian teacher to go on pension in South Africa.

Kanoobhai explained that he had to leave for Zambia in 1952, because in those years he was not allowed to marry outside and bring his Indian wife with him to South Africa. His wife’s family at the time was staying in what is now Zimbabwe. “Moving through the borders northwards in those years was uncomplicated. The only qualification you needed was to be able to speak English,” Kanoobhai laughed.

He said it is a wonderful experience to visit South Africa and to be able to meet old friends and see old familiar places. He lives well in Canada, which he describes as “a very beautiful country.”