By Bronwyn Gerretsen
Gentle, special and fantastic.
These are just some of the words past and present pupils of Magdelena "Riekie" Lotter, 52, have used in their description of the teacher with the "loving smile".
After the tragic death of Magdelena and her husband, Johan, in their Westville home last weekend, pupils have flooded forums such as Facebook and the East Coast Radio blog site with warm words about her.
Others have e-mailed The Independent on Saturday with their memories of Mrs Lotter.
Natasha Hazell, a past pupil who matriculated six years ago, said Lotter was a gentle and very patient woman who "really enjoyed teaching".
"I am absolutely speechless on what has happened to her and her husband. She praised her children and was extremely proud of them, like any parent. I didn't know Mr Lotter, but all I can say is that Mrs Lotter was proud to be a wife and mom," she said.
Various comments have been posted on the Facebook group "In loving memory of Mrs Lotter".
Before it was alleged that two of her children were involved in the murders, Kim Norris wrote: "She was a genuinely kind person. I think we all used to drive her crazy in class... To her three children, you have my deepest condolences and my heartfelt thoughts. You came to our school once during class and the smile on her face was the biggest I had ever seen. I didn't even know you, but I could tell how proud she was of you."
According to Jadine Bodenstein, Lotter was the "sweetest, kindest and most gentle teacher" she had ever known.
Smile
"I'll never forget her loving smile and affection for her students," she said.
Lisa Breytenbach said Lotter was "an awesome teacher" and "the sweetest lady", while Debbie Strydom wrote: "Mrs Lotter, you were the coolest Afrikaans teacher ever and you will be sorely missed by so many of us."
Many of her pupils made reference to and felt guilty about giving her "hassles" during her lessons, as many pupils do during school lessons.
"I always remembered her in Afrik (sic) we used to always give her such hassles but she also put up with it and was an awesome teacher," wrote Terri-Lee Elston.
Lotter's sense of humour was highlighted by many of the pupils and the message that "she will definitely be missed" featured highly among all the tributes to a "cool" and "wicked" teacher.
KK So summed up the sentiment: "Mrs Lotter was a very special person and enlightened each one of our lives. I'm glad I had the opportunity to have known her in my life."
Johan Lotter, 53, was head of the Lanxess chemical plant in Merebank.