Dear Editor
The Democratic Alliance Women’s Network (DAWN) yesterday kicked off its 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children by handing over a memorandum to the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development.
The DA will request that Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Michael Masutha, reply to the demands in the memorandum before the end of the 16 Days of Activism.
Minister Masutha should commit to addressing the serious short comings of the maintenance courts as a priority, and the DA will seek a commitment from him that justice delayed no longer becomes justice denied for millions of women across the country.
This memorandum called for increased funding to Maintenance Courts to ensure the efficient and compassionate handling of maintenance cases.
It also included the following:
- That turnaround times for maintenance cases are reduced;
- That efficient mechanisms to trace maintenance defaulters are instituted;
- That more maintenance officers are employed to decrease the current case load;
- That maintenance officers be properly trained; and
- That more maintenance courts are built as too many areas have no designated maintenance courts, meaning that women often have to travel long distances to access these courts.
Millions of women across the country bear the brunt of single-handedly raising their children, without any support from their children’s’ fathers. Millions continue to struggle, sometimes for years, to make ends meet as the courts fail to hold fathers accountable for paying maintenance fees to support their children.
The failure of maintenance courts has perpetuated gender-based economic and social inequality and has undermined the rights of women in South Africa today.
The contribution women make towards our society cannot be understated. It is thus important that ours becomes a society that does not place burdens on them that hinder their economic freedom, social advancement and self-actualisation.
The DA will continue to fight to ensure that mothers receive the support they need, not only during the 16 Days of Activism, but throughout the year.
Regards
Denise Robinson MP
DAWN Federal Leader
