Cape cracks down on deadbeat dads

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Published Nov 26, 2015

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Cape Town - The Western Cape head of the Justice and Constitutional Development department has warned that state officials who default on maintenance orders will not get away with it.

Hishaam Mohamed told a briefing of journalists on the 16 Days of Activism campaign against violence against women and children that “whether they are local councillors or members of parliament, we will make sure they comply”.

During the campaign, the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster would focus on Operation Isondlo, its maintenance turnaround strategy which implements civil remedies for the recovery of maintenance payments and the tracing of defaulters.

For the period April to November 2015, the Department of Justice had attached the pensions of 53 maintenance defaulters to the value of R2,7 million.

Mohamed said of that amount, R1,7 million had already been paid out.

He said in March there were 1 078 outstanding warrants of arrest for maintenance defaulters. By the end of last month, 391 warrants had been executed.

“The Top Twenty Maintenance Defaulters collectively owe R1 299 149,00. Twelve of the twenty defaulters, with a combined arrears value of R860 739,00 were traced and appeared in court during July 2015 to October 2015.”

Tracing of the remaining defaulters would be a priority during the 16 Days Campaign he added.

Mohamed said that with the assistance of police, search operations would be conducted to trace 687 untraced alleged maintenance defaulters for whom there were outstanding warrants of arrest.

Philippi had the highest number of outstanding warrants of arrest at 266.

The top twenty defaulters owe some hefty amounts: Johannes Owies of Uitsig owes a total of R61 800,00 while Euan Kanow with a home address “unknown” owes R58 358,00, Mohamed revealed.

ANA

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