The Courier covered many heart breaking stories during 2017.  Stories that made us stop and take stock of ourselves, our society and our country.

Here are just some of those that made us all feel that the greatest thing in life is to show empathy and love your neighbour:

Father waits for outcome of inquiry into tragic death of mother, unborn child

She was seven months pregnant and in agony at her home in Lindelani.
Her anxious boyfriend, Zakhele Dlamini, called the Emergency Medical Rescue Services on the night of December 16, 2016.
But Lilli Hadebe did not receive the kind of medical care that she and Zakhele thought they would get.

Two-year-old boy drowns tragically in bucket of water

A two-year-old boy tragically drowned in a bucket of water in Dlamini Village late on Monday afternoon, February 6.

Granny’s body stolen from cemetery in Dannhauser

t has been a traumatic time for a family after they received news that their grandmother’s body was stolen from a cemetery, 14 years after her funeral.

Man shoots himself at police

There was drama at the Dundee Police Station late yesterday when a man, arrested for shoplifting, grabbed a police officer’s firearm and shot himself dead.

Can you help Mervyn in his desperate search for his mum?

A man’s desperate search to re-connect with his mother tugged at many heart strings.

Lady biker killed in Wasbank crash

Yolandi Steenkamp, a biker from Vryheid was killed in a horrific crash on the Wasbank Road

Tragic passing of former Sarel Cilliers learner

He was described as a model student and his sudden passing stunned many.