MALAIKA MAHLATSI | Jailing deadbeat dads a Pyrrhic victory

A few days ago, Sowetan ran a story about a Mahikeng, North West, man who was sentenced to three months in prison for refusing to pay child maintenance. (https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/south-africa/2023-03-31-contemptuous-dad-sent-to-jail-for-refusing-to-pay-child-support/)

The father of three, who owns an accountancy practice, was held in contempt of court for refusing to comply with a maintenance order that was granted as part of the divorce to the mother of his children in 2014. Ironically, it was the man himself who drafted the settlement agreement in which he stipulated his financial commitments – commitments which he has consistently refused to honour...