Thousands of mothers are waiting for answers after child maintenance payments were disrupted, with some beneficiaries reportedly going without money since last month.
The payments, processed through the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development’s garnishee order system, are relied on by families to cover essential expenses, including food, school costs and transport.
Affected mothers have reportedly been told that a problem with the court payment system caused the disruption. However, questions remain over the exact cause of the payment freeze and when outstanding funds will be released.
Felicity Guest, founder of Child Maintenance Difficulties South Africa, says the situation may be broader than a maintenance payment glitch, with some women also reporting problems accessing money from the Guardian’s Fund.
Guest says the department cited “suspicious activities” as the reason for freezing the payment system. She has questioned what this means and whether the disruption could involve a cyberattack, ransom demand or an internal problem.
“We’re looking at Mojo Pay, and we’re looking at the Guardian Fund,” Guest said, highlighting concerns about different payment streams administered by the Justice Department.
The department has indicated that it would issue a statement explaining the non-payment of garnishee orders.
The latest disruption has placed renewed attention on the systems used to distribute court-ordered maintenance. South African law provides for maintenance payments through several mechanisms, including direct payments, electronic funds transfers and deductions from a payer’s salary through a garnishee order.
For affected families, however, the issue is immediate. Every missed payment can put pressure on household budgets and make it harder for caregivers to meet their children’s basic needs.
The growing concern is now not only when the payments will resume, but whether the department can provide a clear explanation of what caused the disruption and what measures are being taken to prevent a repeat.