This has become a cliche, used by the courts, Social Services and related departments around the world. But just whose responsibility is it to ensure that what is in the best interest of the child prevails? Take the case of 16-year-old Kagisano Otlogeleng. Today, as children his age were excitedly trying on their new pairs of school shoes, or trying on a new uniform or attending their new school's orientation session, this boy was busy loitering at the village Tuck-Shop, hoping to find a piece-job to later buy some flour or a packet of beans to share with his impoverished family. But this boy would have been as excited as his peers had circumstances in his life been different.
When schools open next week Kagisano would have been queueing up with his peers for his Form Five assembly, but despite the fact that he passed his Junior Certificate and was admitted at Kgari Sechele Senior Secondary School last year he was never able to go to school. From interviews with his parents, the social welfare and education officials, it becomes apparent that if the government institutions had working systems in place, the boy would have been continuing with his studies.
