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Legal experts say it’s important for people who look after children whose parents have died to formalise their status as guardians in order to avoid legal complications. Tokollo Machea (not his real name) is from Phuthadithaba in the Free State. He says his 58-year old unemployed mother has been looking after his late brother’s daughter after both her parents died. The girl’s father Polelo Machea died last year and he had an investment policy with Old Mutual. His daughter, currently a minor, is the sole beneficiary. However, the family has been struggling to get the company to pay out the much-needed funds.