Yesterday, Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mr Andries Nel, together with the Regional Head of the Department, Adv. Hishaam Mohamed, joined members of the South African Police Services in Cloetesville, Stellenbosch, in the tracing and execution of warrant of arrests targeting maintenance defaulters.
The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development has embarked on a campaign to improve the functioning of the maintenance system in order to assist parents who struggle to obtain maintenance for their children. Since 15 September 2011, the Western Cape Region of the department has undertaken certain activities that seek to locate untraced beneficiaries in order to pay maintenance money that is due to them and to trace and arrest alleged untraced defaulters at roadblocks and door-to door searches.
Yesterday's operation has resulted in the successful arrest of three maintenance defaulters, namely; Mr John Cupido, Mr Joseph Anthony and Mr Johanes Booysen. All three were expected to appear at the Stellenbosch Magistrates Court this morning.
Up to this day, 78 alleged maintenance defaulters who collectively owe maintenance money amounting to R840 181.00 have been arrested in the Western Cape. Sixty-one (61) out of one-hundred and fifty seven (157) untraced maintenance beneficiaries have been successfully traced and an amount of R76 216.00 has been paid out.
During the search operation Deputy Minister Andries Nel interacted with members of the community and urged them to work in co-operation with the police and other law enforcement agencies in order to help the government to improve its services. Both Deputy Minister and the Station Commissioner Cloetesville SAPS, Lt. Col Roziers hailed the operation as a success.
Enquiries:
Chester Mpane
Cell: 082 370 9532
Deputy Minister Andries Nel joins the South African Police Services operation to trace alleged maintenance defaulters in Cloetesville, Stellenbosch, Western Cape Province
