Madam Speaker,

 

With courts interpreting laws narrow-mindedly and with poor education and inadequate legislation, our women and children continue to suffer without crucial maintenance. The responsibility of a child is placed on both parents under South African Law, but our women are all too often faced with the sole responsibility of maintenance. This is in spite of the 1998 Maintenance Act, which was brought in to address exactly this crisis.

Sadly, however, stories of confusion and inadequacies in the courts, along with ineffective implementation of the law that further prolong the pain of claimants, continue to prevail. I have time and again encountered mothers who as a result of non-payment of maintenance have been forced to remove their children from schools. I personally know of a Cape Town farther who, regardless of a High Court ruling, has not been paying maintenance. Subsequently the mother of his children has had to sell the family home. I would like to urge the Government to do more to help these mothers in crisis. I will continue to get errant men arrested, but without the Government doing its bit, my efforts will remain but a drop in the ocean.