As school has commenced for the year and schoolchildren have settled into their school year, Aldah Sithole (12) from Diepsloot is without a school due to no birth certificate and being declined admittance into any school.
Sithole is part of a non-profit company, Khensani Collection, which aims to provide hope through education, with a few schoolchildren assigned mentors in the programme. She attends the extra math and science daily classes at Khensani Collection and has a mentor who helps to show her a world outside of Diepsloot.
Sithole completed Grade 7 last year and was excited at the thought of going to high school this year. With the misfortune of an alcoholic mother and no legal identification, Sithole managed to raise herself without missing a single day of primary school.
Due to tireless issues of getting into a school, the principal of Sunrise High School wished to accept Sithole to their school, however, could not which prompted director of Khensani Collection, Shera Deavall’s recent visit.
Deavall called her superior at the Department of Education, George Segaetsho who told her that unless a child has a birth certificate there was nothing they could do.
“So I had to turn around to this talented South African-born child, budding with potential and inform her that she would not be going to school. To see hope drain from a child’s face is devastating. As a minor, she herself cannot do anything to change the situation. Her mother is helpless as she has no documents to present,” said Deavall.
“Surely it is a child’s constitutional right to get an education? I have knocked on every door and been turned away. We have visited home affairs in Randburg, Johannesburg CBD and Pretoria and were met with rude, unhelpful people at every turn. I desperately want more for this child, and others like her. How can we help her, please?”
Community members are asked to help with advice as to how Sithole can get admission to a school.
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