Patricia Zulu said she felt John Mbutho's sentence for stabbing her son, Andile Zulu(11), more than 40 times with a knife, was too lenient.

Showing Andile's Grade 2 report card, in which a teacher described him as a respectful child whose work was "beautiful", Zulu said that no sentence could bring back her son.

"He was my last-born. He was a good boy," she added.

Mbutho apologised to Zulu after he was sentenced, but she waved her hand dismissively and shook her head.

Judge Squires described the attack on Andile on September 14 1997, as "horrendously savage". The boy, who Mbutho admitted to sodomising before he stabbed him over and over with a knife about 15cm long, had wounds to his head, neck, chest, abdomen, buttocks and thighs. There were also signs that the boy had been dealt a blow to the head.

Even if the boy had taken money or goods from the informal trader's stall, such an attack was unjustified, the judge said. Mbutho had declined to give evidence.

Mbutho's youth and recklessness were taken into account as mitigating factors, although Judge Squires said not much could be made of his age - 20 - because many young men were involved in violent crime.

"Twenty years is the least I can impose and I sentence you accordingly," Judge Squires told Mbutho.

Mbutho was not charged with sodomy.

With acknowledgement to Sue Blaine and Independent Online.