Kimberley - A sombre atmosphere filled the tent during the funeral of the six-year-old boy who was killed while defending his mother from a man who attacked and tried to rape her.
Kutlwano Garesape, born on June 5 2010, died on August 12 2016, just two months after his sixth birthday.
He was brutally stabbed to death with a broken bottle after a man attacked his mother while she was walking him and his brother to school.
He was buried at his mother's home in Taung over the weekend.
Pupils, teachers, family members and members of the community, including political and religious leaders, from the Northern Cape, North West and other parts of the country, paid tribute to Kutlwano.
Buses ferried those who did not have transport to the funeral.
The Northern Cape MEC for Education, Martha Bartlett, the MEC for Transport, Safety and Liaison, Pauline Williams, and the President of the SA Muslim Judicial Council (MJC), Shakyh Irafaan Abrahams, were joined by officials from various departments in the North West at the funeral.
Each speaker commended the young boy for his bravery.
Teachers from Taudiarora Primary School in Jan Kempdorp, which Kutlwano attended, said he truly lived up to his nickname, John Cena (an American professional wrestler).
His Grade R teacher, Masego Makgoane, said Kutlwano was a very strong-willed pupil.
"Kutlwano was a very active and talkative child. He was also a very smart pupil. He and his older brother, Thabiso, were in the same class although Thabiso was already in Grade 1. When it came to the end of the year and the children progressed to their new grades, Kutlwano had to remain behind as he was too young to progress to Grade 1.
"This was despite the fact that I knew he was ready for the grade. I shared with him that he had to come back to Grade R and could only progress to Grade 1 once he is seven years old. He was still five years old at the time.
"Kutlwano could not understand and said that he did not want to be in a class with babies. I told him that he himself is still a baby, but he refused to accept that he would have to stay in Grade R.
"We had to give in and allow him to progress to Grade 1 and he did very well. Even at the age of five, Kutlwano was not afraid to stand up and speak up for himself, no matter whom he was facing. That bravery was instilled in him," Makgoane said.
Kutwano's Grade 1 teacher, TS Manzana, described the young boy as very persistent.
"He was cooperative and an active child. One of the subjects he excelled in was Setswana and he could write beautifully. His bravery will always remain with me as I knew him not to be one who would let himself be pushed around.
"His bravery was evident in this tragic incident whereby he knew there was danger but was not afraid nor ran away. He will be dearly missed," Manzana said.
MEC Bartlett called on parents to appreciate their children.
"Kutlwano gave up his own life for that of his mother's. He knew in his very young mind that he must protect his mother and he did so successfully. His bravado has taught everyone an important lesson, which is that we must look out for each other.
"We should not be afraid to go and help when we hear someone screaming because we may find ourselves in need of assistance the next day. Kutlwano has left us with this lesson and we need to impose it everyday of our lives," Bartlett said. She called on community members to act sternly against perpetrators.
The president of the MJC, Irafaan Abrahams, had mourners in tears when he touched a nerve and indicated that the incident could have happened to anyone present.
"It could have been my son or wife... anyone of us could have been mourning our child today," Abraham said.
He said that the deceased taught everyone across the world an important lesson.
"This child saw what was happening and he did not run away. He taught us that he will defend his mother, even if it cost him his life. Justice must take its course in this matter as we cannot have sympathy with a man who killed a child," he said.
The man arrested in connection with the incident, Tefelo Dikole, will appear in the Jan Kempdorp Magistrate's Court on Monday on charges of murder and attempted rape.
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