Plessislaer Advice Office
tel: 033 398 0194
Using Mediation to Persuade a Father to Pay Child Maintenance
A 21-year-old woman came to the office on 11th May to report that she was having a problem with the father of her four-month-old son, who was not paying child maintenance. The mother was unemployed and only had the child support grant to maintain herself and the child. Plessislaer paralegal Theresa Thusi (below right) suggested that she call the father for mediation, and the mother agreed.
The office called the father and invited him to the office t
o discuss the matter, and he came. At the mediation the father explained how he had supported the child until it was three weeks old. He said that he wanted to support his son but didn’t have a permanent job with a regular income, as he drives taxis now and then. He said that the mother asks him for money and expects him to be able to produce it immediately, and he tells her that he will help her when he can.
Mrs Thusi asked the father how much he can pay for maintenance each month at the moment, and he said he could afford R 800. He said he would pay more if he could and that the amount would vary from month to month. The mother accepted this and the father promised to deposit the money into her account at Shoprite and to keep the slip as proof.
The office followed up a month later and the mother said the father was paying as promised. We told her to contact us if he stopped the payments.
Many clients haven´t eaten in days, and advice office staff provide them with food, clothes and toys when they can.
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