School 'united by raw emotion'

2008-01-10 09:07

Virginia Keppler

Pretoria - Teachers and learners at Zwartkop High School in Centurion greeted each other with white candles, flowers and tearful eyes on the first day of school on Wednesday.

The school is in mourning after the death of head girl Tessa Strydom, 17, and Hanu Hardijzer, 17, another matriculant, two days before the new school year started.

Tessa, Hanu and Wynand Dafel, 21, Hanu's cousin who spent the December holidays in South Africa, died in a gruesome accident about 01:00 on Monday morning.

They were on their way to drop Tessa off at her home when the accident happened down the street from her parents' house.

"There are holes in our hearts. Tessa and Hanu both played a huge role in our lives," said Dominee Christo Woite, from the Church without Walls, during the opening ceremony at the school.

'She made a huge difference'

During a moment of silence in the school hall, learners, teachers, parents and family members cried inconsolably.

Johan Strydom, 25, Tessa's brother, had to be supported by his parents, Johan snr and Susan.

Two learners holding enlarged photographs of Tessa and Hanu stood on the stage while music played in the background.

Dr Dewald Strydom, the principle, said: "Tessa didn't drop me. She made a huge difference. We will hijack her dream and Zwarries will live to the full on every terrain, because Tessa thrived on distinctions. The school is united by raw emotion.

"The learners are united, just like Tessa would have wanted it," he said.

Dr Strydom said a team of counsellors would visit the school during break to talk to the learners and help them address their sadness.

Mrs Strydom had to set aside her own grief for a while to comfort one of her daughter's best friends.

Hanu will be buried at 12:00 on Thursday and Tessa at 10:00 on Friday, both from the Church Without Walls. Wynand's parents arrive in South Africa from Canada on Friday to arrange his funeral.

- Beeld