VUYO MKIZE
A MUCH-needed change is on its way for thousands of Soweto residents who have to journey into the city for their child maintenance claims.
None of the five magistrate’s courts in the township has a dedicated maintenance section. But this is set to change next year.
In July, The Star reported that Emily Dhlamini, Gauteng regional head in the Department of Justice, said there were 23 000 active maintenance files in Joburg, half of which were from Soweto.
“This is a matter to which we have been paying close attention in an effort to enhance access to justice.
“To this end, a costing exercise has been submitted to the national office so that we are able to decentralise these services and make them available to centres nearest to the communities that need them,” Department of Justice spokesman Tlali Tlali said.
“Funding has been secured and the services (maintenance courts) will become available in Soweto from… the beginning of the next financial year, meaning that as of April 1 next year, the roll-out of such services will begin.”
Tlali added, however, that there were certain logistical matters, including the rationalisation of staff and files that would need to be moved, before the courts could function effectively.
“In the recent past, the Minister (of Justice Jeff Radebe) has spoken about the decentralisation of services and changing the status of courts that were designated in areas which were historically for (black) African settlement.
“We are undertaking to change the courts such as those in Soweto, from branch service courts to full service courts.
“We are trying to get away from the situation where people have to move from their place of residence and journey to other areas to get assistance,” he added.
A court official, who spoke to the Star on condition of anonymity, said all that was needed in Soweto as a start were mobile units from which maintenance matters could be filed.
“It’s not about the resources, it’s about infrastructure, and all we need is the space.
“And imagine, for many people who don’t have money to go to Joburg but need help with their maintenance matters it’s a really important issue because it touches on our everyday lives,” she continued.
Thoko (not her real name), from Protea south, said she it would be a relief for her if Soweto had maintenance courts.
She has had to endure the trying task of repeatedly travelling to the city centre to file her maintenance claim for her one-year-old son against his father, and to attend court appearances.
“There’s no court in Soweto that does it (maintenance). It gets very full in town and we have to wait in long queues when we get there. It would be better and easier if there was a court closer by,” she said.