SMANGELE Malema was laid to rest at Soshanguve Crossing Cemetery in Tshwane on Sunday, 22 October.
The 26-year-old's body was found murdered and burnt in Soshanguve on Tuesday, 10 October.
Family, friends and mourners described her as a loving person and said her death was a great loss not only for the family, but the entire community.
Mourners said they want a heavy sentence for the suspect who allegedly strangled, raped and murdered her.
Smangele's grandmother, Ellie Nkonyane (87) told Daily Sun she is weak and heartbroken by what happened to Smangele.
She said she raised Smangele after the death of her mother, Deliwe Malema in 2003.
"When she left home on 10 October 2023, she told me she was visiting her friend at Block AA in Soshanguve. I didn't know that was the last day I would see her. She told me she will be back just now. That was the last time I saw her.
"She was a good child, friendly and loved cooking. She left me with her five-year-old daughter and I will treat her like her mother," she said.
Smangele's sister, Zanele (34) said they were very close.
ALSO READ| Residents left with only what they're wearing!
"We used to share a lot of things. She loved to have fun and was always a happy soul. She was a hard worker and we have lost a good person. Justice must be served because what the man has done to the family is painful," she said.
Martin Kubeka, Rise Mzansi Tshwane field organiser, said: "We are deeply hurt. It's time for men to fix this gender-based violence as enough is enough."
He said what happened to Smangele must not happen again.
Onkgopotse Thompson-Peete, regional secretary ANC Youth League Tshwane, said: "It's high time to start speaking about these things we are facing. We must speak about it at taverns, in relationships and in our homes. These social ills must not become secret to avoid similar incidents."
