28-07-2025
Pilot project to blacklist child maintenance defaulters launches in Gauteng
Ten courts in Gauteng have been used to roll out a pilot project aimed at blacklisting persistent child maintenance defaulters with credit bureaus.
The project comes eight months after the department of justice and Social Justice Foundation confirmed they were going ahead with the initiative, with the rollout aimed to begin in August.
The two entities signed a memorandum of understanding in November last year to have defaulting parents blacklisted.
Spokesperson for the ministry of justice and constitutional development Terrence Manase confirmed to Sowetan that the pilot project involves 10 courts in Gauteng and training started last Wednesday.
He said the training was part of a structured in-service programme aimed at capacitating court officials at the 10 selected pilot sites.
'This phase includes a two-level verification process to ensure data accuracy and legal compliance, including protection of children's identities. The department is finalising system integration and information security processes.'
He said the training focuses on strengthening the application of section 26 of the Maintenance Act, which empowers complainants (usually maintenance beneficiaries) to enforce maintenance orders when payment has not been made.
