Johannesburg – Bontle Mokoena battled to hold back the tears.
As she stood on the podium in front of hundreds of people at her younger sister Karabo's funeral service, she broke down.
"This is the hardest thing I've had to do in my life, so please bear with me," she said in a soft and mellow voice.
Bontle took to the stage at the Diepkloof Hall in Soweto on Friday to share a few words about the love she had for her sister Karabo.
"My little sister was so bold," she said. "You used to tell me you need to stand up, you need to be tall. You need to be grateful for life."
Friends and family gathered at the Diepkloof Hall to say their final goodbyes to Karabo.
The 22-year-old's burnt body was found in a veld in Lyndhurst, Johannesburg, on April 29. She was reported missing the day before.
WATCH: Video by Siphelele Dludla/ANA
Among those in attendance at the funeral service was Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini , Minister of Women in the Presidency Susan Shabangu, and Health and Social Development MMC Mpho Phalatse.
Speaking at Karabo's funeral service, Dlamini said the number of women being killed was the equivalent of femicide.
#KaraboFuneral 'Men of Hope' stand around Karabo's coffin holding placards calling on men to stand up against women abuse. pic.twitter.com/OKdjuupBPI
— Sam Naik (@SamNaik01) May 19, 2017
"This must be a lesson to all of us. Stop politicising issues that affect us on a daily basis because we're misleading children. This abuse and violence can happen to anyone regardless of affiliation, status in society, or location," she said.
“A 22-year-old is at their prime, no one must come cut that life. Men, this must come to an end."
#KaraboFuneral mourner: God always gives his hardest battles to his strongest soldiers ." #KaraboMokoena @SaturdayStar @IOL
— Sam Naik (@SamNaik01) May 19, 2017
Bathabile Dlamini : If we don't stand up as South Africans.. many more of our children will be killed." #KaraboMokoena @SaturdayStar @iol pic.twitter.com/kOknIWOn0M
— Sam Naik (@SamNaik01) May 19, 2017
Karabo will be laid to rest at the Westpark Cemetery in Johannesburg on Friday.