I would like to formally escalate a complaint regarding a pair of Hush Puppies school shoes that I purchased from the Kingmead store in Pietermaritzburg in January this year

I would like to formally escalate a complaint regarding a pair of Hush Puppies school shoes that I purchased from the Kingmead store in Pietermaritzburg in January this year. After only six months of normal school use, the soles on both shoes have cracked. I returned the shoes to the Kingmead store, but my complaint was dismissed, and I was told that the damage was due to "wear and tear." School shoes are specifically designed for daily use by children, and it is reasonable to expect that they would last significantly longer than six months. The fact that both soles have cracked suggests a possible manufacturing or material defect rather than normal wear and tear. I purchased Hush Puppies because of the brand's reputation for quality and durability, and I am disappointed that my concerns were not taken seriously.