The cruelty of death suddenly caught up with him at a young age. Although he looked bright and originated from an indigent family, death did not feel pity for him. Instead, Rikhathutshele Sidimela (6) was crushed to death by a vehicle while trying to cross a busy public road at Makonde last week.

Fellow schoolmates, educators, family members and friends gathered in pain to pay their last tribute to the young genius at his moving funeral service at Makonde village on Saturday morning. Rikhathutshele was a Grade R learner at the local Jim Masindi Primary School.

School principal Victoria Shirindi said it was sad to lose a highly intelligent young boy like Rikhathutshele. "We only lived with him for seven months, because he only started schooling this year, but we realized that the boy had the potential to be something in life. As he comes from a disadvantaged background, we were expecting that, like any other child, he would complete his education and bring light to his family because mana a mutukana a si vhumathselo hawe (the cracks on the heels of the boy is not his future). It pains us very much because we did not expect something like this to happen. We only look upon the Lord to guide us in this trying time.

Family representative Chief Nathaniel Lalumbe said the family has accepted what happened although it was not easy. "We know that our boy is gone and we will never see him again. God does everything for a reason and we have to accept it. We were expecting many good things from our boy but he was suddenly taken away from us. However, we are very grateful and thankful for the support we received from the community since the tragedy befell us."