Child Maintenance Information Sessions Held across the Province

Today (6 December 2010), Minister Anton Bredell visited an information session on child maintenance in Khayelitsha, which was facilitated by his department's Community Development Workers (CDWs).

These workshops are being held in the Metro as well as other districts in support of the Child Maintenance project which was launched by the Premier's office as part of the 16 days of Activism campaign. Officials from the Department of Justice use these workshops as a platform to discuss issues around child maintenance.

A total of 32 workshops will be held in the province until the end of the campaign on 10 December. Workshop participants are taken through the steps that they need to take to claim child maintenance through the court system.

The CDWs have also been assisting by engaging in door-to-door campaigns to trace people who have been successful in claiming maintenance money but have not yet collected it. In many cases they have moved house and the notice to collect the money has been sent to their previous address.

"The issue of non-payment of child maintenance is a very serious one," said Minister Bredell, "Parents must take full responsibility for their children. As provincial government, we will assist people to claim maintenance from parents who are not taking responsibility."

Statement by:
Anton Bredell
Minister of Local Government,
Environmental and Development Planning
Western Cape