children 28 November 2007
The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development will be
commemorating the 16 Days of Activism of No Violence against Women and Children
by handing over maintenance money to traced beneficiaries. The department will
further assist all women and other vulnerable groups with advice on amongst
others maintenance, domestic violence, diseased estates, children's courts and
divorce courts.
Date: 30 November 2007
Time: 9h00
Venue: Umthombowolwazi Hall, Dobsonville, Soweto
Media is invited and will be afforded an opportunity to interview
beneficiaries as well.
Background
The reduction of poverty is one of the Presidential priorities of government
and the convention of the rights of the child states: "the state has an
obligation to ensure the child's survival and development." The improvement of
the maintenance system will have a positive impact on the lives of the
thousands of poverty stricken families in South Africa.
'Operation Isondlo' focuses on maintenance issues and aims to improve the
maintenance system through a series of interventions such as, amongst others,
the paying out of unclaimed maintenance monies to beneficiaries, clamping down
on maintenance defaulters, appointment of maintenance investigators and
educating the public on their rights in terms of maintenance. The department
has through the Operation Isondlo project employed independent tracers as well
as its own Maintenance Investigators to assist with the tracing of maintenance
beneficiaries and maintenance defaulters
Did you know?
A vast number of the community is unaware of their rights in terms of
maintenance. Some of the areas that need communication, as evident from the
tracing of beneficiaries are of the following:
* If the mother is deceased, the children are still entitled to their
maintenance, and their caretaker can claim so that the children can be looked
after.
* If the father is paying maintenance and the children moves to him, when the
mother dies, he should go to the court to inform them as he does not have to
pay maintenance anymore.
* Future maintenance as well as arrear can be claimed against the paying
parent, when he/she resigns from a job, with an attachment order against his
pension or even retrenchment package.
* Future maintenance money will be kept in the guardian fund in an interest
bearing account for the benefit of the child.
Beneficiaries of unclaimed money will be paid out
On 30 November 2007 close to R300 000 will be paid out to maintenance
beneficiaries, who was traced by the department. Their money will be handed
over via symbolic cheques at the event. Here are some of the heart-warming
success stories:
Vuyelwa Mgqaza / Thomas Baloyi: R13 050,00
The applicant has since passed away in 2002. The children, Bonginkosi and
Sabelo are residing with the brother to the deceased applicant Thomas Baloyi.
He has been looking after the two children since 2002.
The Maintenance Investigator went to the previous address of the applicant,
which is where they were informed of the passing away of the applicant. The
Investigators were shown where the children are now residing. Baloyi was
contacted at his work in Germiston and informed of the good news.
Mpho Malepho: R72 499,15
The amount that is being paid to the applicant is for future maintenance. The
respondent used to work for Woolworths. He fell into arrears and later
resigned. The applicant approached the court for relief. The moneys of the
respondent were frozen by the court and an amount of R72 000 was attached for
the future maintenance of one child of the applicant in terms of a Court
Order.
Gladys Dumako: R5 000,00
The applicant passed away in 2002 and the children are now staying with the
sister of the deceased, Elizabeth Dumako. The name of the child is Dimakatso
Dumako. The child and the caretaker sister are staying at the same address of
the deceased applicant. They were not aware of the money. The maintenance
Investigator has further reported that he could establish that the child was
not being looked after properly due to the lack of means on the part of the
caretaker sister and believes that the money will come handy in assisting the
child.
Nomadlozi Ntuping: R16 800,00
The applicant has since moved from the address and is now residing in Zola
Township. The Maintenance Investigator was given a telephone number of the
boyfriend of the applicant and got hold of the applicant. The applicant is
working in town and was advised to attend the function on the 30 November. The
applicant does not have contact numbers.
Lettie Vilakazi: R32 420,00
According the report by the maintenance investigator, the applicant passed away
in 2003. The child is now living with the grandmother, Lizzi Vilakazi, at the
same address. The grandmother was not aware of the maintenance money.
Patricia Nxumalo. R14 225,55
The applicant was not aware of the money that was paid towards her child. She
was easily traced by going to the address as reflected on the file. At her
residential address the tracing officials were given her cell phone number and
she was contacted and advised.
Ntombentsha Sonqaba: R14 675,00
The maintenance Investigator did an ITC check on the applicant and found her
contact number. Upon speaking to the applicant he established that the
applicant has since moved to Eastern Cape, Engcobo and is not working. The
applicant was thrilled to hear the news as she was struggling to provide for
her child.
Enquiries:
Heinrich Augustyn
Cell: 084 666 4499
Issued by: Department of Justice and Constitutional Development
28 November 2007
