Image via Pixabay
A family’s financial woes come in between a young boy and his schooling
A young boy, aged eight, will not be returning to school on Monday because of the crippling effect COVID-19 has had on his family.
Image via Pixabay
As many of South Africa’s children get ready to head back to school on Monday 26 July, one boy’s education has come to a halt due to the devastating impact the COVID-19 pandemic.
YOUNG LUYANDA KHOFU FORCED TO DROP OUT OF SCHOOL
Luyanda Khofu is an 8-year-old boy who has been forced to drop out of school, due to the dreadful financial position his parents are currently in.
Luyanda’s mother Elizabeth has been unemployed for the last five years and his father Mongezi lost his job as a panel beater in March last year at the start of the nationwide lockdown.
New Frame reports that Luyanda last attended school in September 2019 in KwaThema, Gauteng where he lived with his mother and two younger siblings. The family has since moved to Kya Sand in northern Johannesburg where they rent a shack for R600.
THE KHOFU FAMILY’S STRUGGLES
Elizabeth says Luyanda continuously asks when he will return to school but she has told him that she doesn’t have money to pay for his schooling. She was able to pay for his school transport while selling vetkoek, chips and kotas from their home.
“When it was month-end, I was able to sometimes make R120 a day, which enabled me to cover the transport money in two days.”
After Luyanda’s father lost his job, Elizabeth began begging at an intersection in North Riding so the family could have something to eat.
‘IF MY MOTHER HAD THE MONEY, I WOULD BE STUDYING’
Young Luyanda tells New Frame that if his mother had the money, she would be able to buy him a bag, school clothes, school shoes and pencils. His favourite part about school is reading and writing.
He hopes to be a police officer when he grows up. Luyanda’s mother mentioned that he doesn’t feel bad when he sees his friends going to school.
When Elizabeth begs in North Riding Johannesburg, she takes her 19-month-old son Abulela and Luyanda with her. She further mentioned that when she has mielie meal, she is able to cook something for the boys to eat.
“It’s not easy standing at the robots. I have accepted that I may get something or not. Days are not the same.”
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