'There's a space missing inside that cannot be filled again': Agony of Reeva's distraught family as they lead mourners at her funeral

The distraught brother of Reeva Steenkamp told how her death had left a 'space missing inside all of the people that she knew', as over a hundred friends and family gathered for a private funeral.
The ceremony, held in MIss Steenkamp's home town of Port Elizabeth's, took place at the same time as her boyfriend Oscar Pistorius appeared in court in the South African capital Pretoria charged with her murder.
Police officers stood guard at the entrance to the building as mourners started to stream in to the crematorium two hours before the ceremony started.

 

 

Unbearable grief: Reeva Steenkamp's mother June Steenkamp (centre in grey top) is comforted after the memorial service for her daughter

 

 

Sombre moment: Pallbearers carry the coffin of Reeva Steenkamp into the crematorium building in Port Elizabeth today

Tragic loss: Reeva Steenkamp, pictured in a modelling photograoph (left) and also on the cover of the order of service (right) was shot three times by her boyfriend the paralympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius Steenkamp

Speaking after the ceremony Miss Steenkamp's brother Adam Steenkamp said: ‘There’s a space missing inside all of the people that she knew that cannot be filled again.

‘We’re going to keep all the positive things we remember about my sister. We’ll miss her.'
‘Describing the service, he said: ‘Everyone is sad, understandably.
'But at certain points we were smiling while remembering Reeva because we only have good memories of her.
'I think that was what we were all thinking.’

Shaken: Reeva Steenkamp's father Barry Steenkamp arrives at the crematorium building in Port Elizabeth for his daughter's memorial ceremony

Family: June Steenkamp, mother of the late South African model arrives at the service. She said 'All we want are answers ... answers as to why this had to happen, why our beautiful daughter had to die like this?''

Mourning: Adam Steenkamp, (centre left), the brother of Reeva Steenkamp, walks with family members including her uncle Mikle Steenkamp (front left) in Port Elizabeth

Grief: Miss Steenkamp's father Barry Steenkamp (second left) arrives at the crematorium building in Port Elizabeth

Mourners: People began arriving for the service in Port Elizabeth's Victoria Park Crematorium two hours before it began

There was anger among the mourners with some calling for a harshest of sentences to be handed to Pistorius, who has been charged with her murder.
'Without a doubt. He's a danger to the public. He'll be a danger to witnesses. He must stay in jail.
'He's already shown how dangerous he can be for what he did to Reeva,' said Gavin Venter, an ex-jockey who worked for Reeva's father.
After the hour long ceremony Reeva Steenkamp's uncle Mike, brother Adam and sister Sharon made few brief comments to the press.  All three were red-eyed from crying.

Tragedy: Steenkamp, 29, was shot four times in the early hours of last week at the home she shared with Oscar Pistorius in the South African capital Pretoria

Coffin: Reeva Steenkamp's casket arrives at the Victoria Park Creamtorium ahead of her funeral ceremony in Port Elizabeth

 

 

Comfort: The parents of Reeva Steenkamp, Barry (left) and June Steenkamp (second right), arrive at the Victoria Park Crematorium. It was a private service for her family and friends

 

 

Tragic: An order of service had a print out entitled God's Gift of a Child. It included the line 'I'll lend you for a little while a child of mine' 

 

 

Friend: South African rugby player Francois Hougaard arrives at the service. His friendship with Miss Steenkamp reportedly may have caused tension between her and Pistorius 

Mike Steenkamp tried to see a lighter side to the family tragedy, saying: 'We had planned a family get together for December, but that didn't happen.  Now we are together but there's only one thing missing.'
Then the distraught uncle burst into tears.
'Reeva stood against abuse against women and that stand is more powerful now', he added, 'Reeva represented a world of strength and people coming out of the church are stronger.'

Brave face: Barry Steenkamp is seen leaving after the memorial service for his daughter

 

 

Miss Steenkamp's uncle Mike Steenkamp, (left) and brother Reeva's brother Adam (right) speak to the press outside the crematorium building 

Friends and relatives of Reeva Steenkamp embrace outside Victoria Park Cremtorium following the hour-long memorial ceremony

Trial: The memorial service took place as Miss Steenkamp's boyfriend Oscar Pistorius appeared in court in Pretoria charged with her murder

While most of the crowd of black-clad mourners declined to talk to reporters, the Steenkamp's old family friend Tara Laing told of how she 'watched Reeva growing up'.
Mrs Laing was asked whether, in her opinion, Reeva would have mentioned any relationship problems to the family.  She replied 'no.'
'Reeva was never that type of person to complain', Mrs Laing said.
'I watched her growing up.  She would never complain or make her problems anyone else's. She would just get on with it and sort things out herself.'
Mrs Laing went on: 'Reeva never travelled down [to Port Elizabeth] with Oscar.  The family never met him.'

In the dock: Oscar Pistorius appears in court in Pretoria today charged with Miss Steenkamp's murder

None of the Steenkamp family were willing to comment on Oscar Pistorius.
Also in attendance was rugby player Francois Hougaard, the South African international rugby player whose friendship with Miss Steenkamp may have caused tension between her and Pistorius.

Shock: Oscar Pistorius covers his face with his hands as he sobs uncontrollably in court

He refused to comment.
There were also a number of local political figures and South African celebrities who knew the model from her television work.
A van full of nuns from Miss Steenkamp's Catholic private school also turned up.
Addressing media before the 11am service, Miss Steenkamp's family insisted they would not answer questions about Pistorius.
However, some among the mourners were not so reticent.
Nancy Sishlwayi, Port Elizabeth's deputy mayor and local secretary of the African National Congress' Woman's League said: "This cannot continue to happen....to kill angels.  Reeva was an angel. She can't be killed.
'[Oscar] cannot stay with us.  He must be in court.  He must die in jail.  I am sorry to his family, but he is sick.
'A school friend of Miss Steenkamp's from her time at the local, private, St. Dominic's Priory High School paid tribute to the model's friendliness - and her willingness to learn the local African language of Xhosa.
Khanyiswa Kawa said: "Everything about her - the reception she gave everyone was amazing.
'She was so vibrant. I remember she tried to be a part of us.  She made the time to learn my language which meant the world.'
Miss Steenkamp was shot three times through the bathroom door of the home she shared with Paralympic sprinter Pistorius.
It is alleged she locked herself inside the room because she was terrified following an argument while Pistorius strapped  on his prosthetic legs and walked seven metres before opening fire. He denys murder.

Charge: Angry mourners demanded the harshest of sentences to be handed to Oscar Pistorius who is charged with Miss Steenkamp's murder

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