To ensure that parents comply with court orders directing them to pay child maintenance, the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development together with Social Justice Foundation (SJF) have come up with stringent measures which will force parents to support their children.
On Friday, the two organisations, alongside the Consumer Profile Bureau, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) which is aimed at blacklisting parents who default on child maintenance.
While the initiative is a relief for parents who have been struggling with child maintenance, it will take time before it’s fully operational as the government must first establish a supportive system for the process.
As part of the project, the department of justice plans to establish a system that will enable the transfer of information regarding individuals who are behind on child maintenance payments.
Their data will then be sent to a designated credit bureau, which will then share it with all other credit bureaus and credit providers.
Once a name is flagged by the credit bureau, and added to a blacklist, it will be difficult for the person to get loans on houses, cars, open a store account or even apply for a personal loan.
Speaking during an interview with eNCA, Minister of Justice Justice and Constitutional Development, Thembi Simelane said taking care of children was a Constitutional mandate.
She said it was parent’s obligation to financially maintain their children until they are no longer financially dependent on them.
“Children are vulnerable and both parents carry a responsibility of taking care and raising their children. In our view, the raising is beyond access to money, we have to try and fix the system in its entirety,” she said.
Simelane said this move was made to support the court process which issues child maintenance orders but often times those orders are not adhered to.
Meanwhile, SJF executive director, Anneke Greyvenstein, said the purpose of the project was to close the gap between maintenance courts, service providers and the credit industry.
“By building this bridge we are reshaping how families interact with the legal system, making it accessible and fair.”
sinenhlanhla.masilela@iol.co.za
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