Young sisters still need aid

Mkhululi Ndamase

FOLLOWING The Herald's World Aids Day report of a young girl taking care of her little sister, readers have rallied around to help.
Twelve-year-old Lihle (not her real name) from KwaZakhele was orphaned when her mother died of an Aids-related illness about four years ago.
She cooked, cleaned and played mother to her four-year-old sister, who like her is HIV-positive, until social workers intervened and placed them in the care of a foster mother.
Their foster mother said her wish was to see them in English medium schools.
"They have been in previously disadvantaged schools and I am not happy and satisfied with the performance of the schools.”
Her foster mother, who works as a hairstylist, said someone had come forward to help the sisters after the story about Lihle was published.
The well-wisher had hoped to enrol her at Greenwood Primary School. Since coming forward, personal issues had forced this person to retract the offer.
"I cannot afford to take them to better schools. I want them to go to schools with a good background – schools that will help them should any learning problem creep in because of their domestic and scholar problems.”
Last Friday she went to the Department of Education to try and get the children into good schools.
"I was given a list of schools in Cleary Park, but the problem was Lihle was taught in Xhosa at her previous school KK Ncwana, and they use English and Afrikaans there,” she said.
"Someone then advised me to go to Brylin Primary. They still have space but the problem is the R1870 per month school fees.”
She said the two sisters were doing well now.
"We have been sharing a bed ever since they moved in with me, but on Saturday Coca-Cola delivered their twin beds – they are really nice.”
Even though little Lihle, who turned 12 on Monday, was running a household and going to school last year she managed to obtain satisfactory marks.
Anyone able to help Lihle attend school can call 083-216-2419.