Cape Town - Maintenance defaulters owe R5.3 million in unpaid child support money in the Western Cape. There are 1 639 outstanding warrants of arrest for defaulters, and the top 20 owe R1.2m in child support payments.
The Department of Justice released these figures on Monday at the launch of the 16 Days of Activism Campaign for No Violence Against Women and Children.
The national theme of the campaign is "Count me in: Together moving a non-violent South Africa forward".
But it wasn't all frustration and desperation for single parents trying to raise their children with no help from their former partners.
Six beneficiaries received cheques for their outstanding balances, handed over by the Western Cape Justice Department's head advocate Hishaam Mohamed.
The women from Worcester, Wynberg and Khayelitsha received cheques for the R356 300 they are collectively owed.
"Despite the many laws we have passed to protect women, violence based on gender and sexual orientation remains at unacceptable levels," Mohamed said.
"We know that the violence takes different forms such as sexual harassment, abuse, assault, rape and corrective rape, domestic violence and other cultural practices that are harmful to women and children. The emancipation of women, including their financial freedom, therefore still remains a cardinal goal."
In Bellville, 218 child support dodgers owe R2.5m. Worcester's 99 defaulters owe R1.2m in arrears.
In Philippi, 723 defaulters are wanted by police, but collectively they owe much less, at R214 400.
The Justice Department released a document exposing the details of the Cape's top 20 alleged defaulters.
The top three offenders owe R132 000, R117 000 and R108 000 respectively.
Adding to what is already owed, the department receives a heavy load of new maintenance applications every year from single parents whose partnerships have broken down.
"It is alarming to note that the department receives more than 200 000 new applications for maintenance annually (nationally) which is indicative of the drastic growing trend of children not being provided for," Mohamed said.
"We call on the voices of men who are crucial in the fight against violence and abuse. Now is the time to make your voice heard and declare publicly that enough is enough. Men can no longer be passive bystanders. It is time to confront and hold the abusive actions of your peers to account."
During the campaign, the department plans to host "various service delivery and outreach programmes", with a special focus on parents who don't pay their child support money.
The 16 Days of Activism campaign begins next Tuesday, on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and ends on December 10, International Human Rights Day.
Cape Argus