Abject poverty and a sickly mother and toddler in need of care have left three young children with no choice but to put their schooling on hold.The Qalashe siblings aged 13, 11 and nine have been attending school intermittently to look after their three-year-old brother and 29-year-old widowed mother, Nofika, who has been bedridden since 2021.
What could have been a great event showcasing the Eastern Cape’s top school cross-country runners turned into a nightmare for nine Karoo pupils as the education department’s pledges of transport, accommodation and food came to nothing.