7 November 2024, 10:08 With up to 70% of parents failing to pay child maintenance in the first two years of the court order, the Department of Justice, alongside the Social Justice Foundation is going ahead with its plan toThe move will, however, take some time to go into full effect as the state develops a system to facilitate it.
Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Development spokesperson Tsekiso Machike says the move will help reduce the time wasted on those who default on obligatory payments. “This move is a partnership between Social Justice Foundation consumer profile, precisely for the implementation of Section 26 2A, of the Maintenance Act through maintenance online listing of defaulters.”
“That is basically the purpose of this Memorandum of Understanding, to enforce maintenance orders issued by courts, and to make sure those who default are listed into the credit bureau, hence the partnership,” adds Machike. Non-payment of child maintenance is a criminal offence and carries imprisonment terms not exceeding one year.