A dark cloud of mourning hung around Muduluni Village in the Kutama area on Saturday, during an emotional funeral service of the late Terrence Maba, a Grade 12 pupil at Kutama High, who was attacked and killed last Thursday.

Anger, frustration and pain conquered the whole graveyard as the coffin of the young man was lowered to its final resting place. The sound of hymns was overpowered by weeping and wailing during what the first funeral of its kind at the village. “We have accepted what happened, although we know we will never for get it. The pain we experience as a family is more than words can express,” said a family representative,” Mr Steve Maba.

“We did not expect he would die such a horrible death, but there is nothing we can do. We also thank the community for their support since the tragedy struck us. Your presence and contributions made us strong, although we know the tragedy will ring in our minds for the rest of our lives,” Cllr Norman Mabila said. He added that the community had expected a lot from the young man. “We are shocked and hurt, because this is heartbreaking. We convey our deepest condolences to family members on their great loss. This also affected us as the government.”

The headmaster of Kutama High, Mr Balican Ramasindi, expressed his condolences to the Maba family. He said that his school had lost one of its learners who was eager to learn.