Lefasi was brutally murdered at about 13:00, less than 400 metres away from her school. Her body was discovered in a pool of blood along a public footpath she often used with other students as a short cut to and from school.

After allegedly stabbing the schoolgirl, the suspect disappeared without a trace, but only for a day. Police spokesperson in Vhembe, Supt Ailwei Mushavhanamadi confirmed that the 21-year-old suspect was arrested by the Tshitale SAPS.

The deputy school principal at Vhaluvhu, Mr Piet Kubayi described the performance of the two learners as average.  "They never gave us problems. They were both punctual at school, quiet, disciplined and committed to their studies. Their gruesome fight shocked, frightened and traumatised educators and learners," he said.

Kubayi said that the school principal, Mr MS Rambau and two educators visited the two families earlier this week. "We have agreed to get a psychologist to visit us and do counseling for the traumatized learners and teachers,” he said. Kubayi said that each teacher at his school will contribute R10 as part of assisting the bereaved family with funeral expenses, while his 789 learners will each contribute R2.

Lefasi´s grieving mother, Mrs Tshiwela Maduwa said that she was not aware that her daughter had already begun to involve herself in a relationship with a boy until last week Saturday. "Villagers who told me that they always saw the suspect beating up my daughter, came to inform me that she abducted at the nearby donga. On arrival, I found the suspect with my daughter. I took Lefasi, but he kept on following us, telling me that very soon, I will mourn for my daughter. I chased him, but he later came back and repeated that very soon, I will mourn the death of Lefasi, but I never believed his statement until he did it," she said.

The ageing Tshiwela added that when the suspect abducted her daughter the following day, she went to Tshitale to report the matter as well as to get a protection order. "We came back to the village with the police, and searched for the two, until we found them. On arrival at the police station, the police indicated that they cannot lock up the suspect because when he gets out, he will open up a charge against my daughter. I changed my mind and the suspect was released.

“I am speechless. My daughter was everything to my life. Losing her, it is like I fell down to the ground on my face. She used to cook and wash for me, but God took her away. Any way, all of us will die and as her mother, I will one day follow her. I am saying all this, because I am bitter," she said.

The office of the mayor of the Makhado Municipality, delegated two members of the executive council, Cllr Thanyani Mudau and Cllr Grace Nkanyane to visit the bereaved family on Wednesday. They were also accompanied by ward 18 councilor, Cllr EH Ngobeni.

* The funeral is scheduled to start at 07:00. When going to press, the suspect was still expected to appear in the Tshitale Magistrate’s Court on a charge of murder.