Single mothers fighting an unfeeling maintenance system represent some of the most overlooked victims of corruption in South Africa. Their daily struggles for child support highlight a justice mechanism that often fails the most vulnerable....Click to Read More >>➤

Recent high-profile inquiries have cast a stark light on systemic corruption. When KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi alleged a widespread syndicate involving police, prison staff, judges, and politicians was holding the country hostage, the public took note. The subsequent proceedings from the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry and a parliamentary ad hoc committee have presented evidence suggesting these claims of profound interference may be valid.

This situation paints a disturbing picture: justice in South Africa has been for sale, with the primary buyers being those with political connections or criminal affiliations. This reality echoes the persistent cries from single mothers navigating the maintenance courts. For years, these women have reported that cases appear to be “bought,” leading to justice being consistently denied in favor of the opposing party.

The very nation now demanding accountability has often treated the voice of a mother as insignificant. It seems their claims require validation by more powerful entities to even be registered and taken seriously. This institutional dismissal perpetuates a cycle of hardship and injustice.

Of course, it is also true that not every applicant’s request will be deemed valid by every court. The legal process requires evidence and justification. However, the problem lies not in legitimate rulings but in a system that has been compromised.

An Unresponsive System Deepens the Struggle

Many women, utterly defeated by an unkind and unresponsive system, simply give up. Faced with a process that turns hopelessly slow, they bow out of the legal journey. Their priority shifts from seeking rightful support to the immediate, desperate fight to keep hunger at bay for their children.

Their experiences are often marked by demoralizing interactions. Some report comments from maintenance officers that add insult to injury, such as being told, “ma’am, you’ll just have to learn to live within your means.” This advice is given while the other parent flourishes, living life as though they have no responsibility or care in the world.

The consequences are viscerally real and deeply painful. School fees go unpaid. Children’s shoes wear into tatters. The electricity is barely kept on. Clothes become worn and outdated. All this unfolds while the father lives undeterred, his life unaffected. Under these stark circumstances, is it any wonder that mothers believe justice was sold?

The Path Forward Demands Institutional Integrity

Author Tina Swithin once noted, “Motherly instincts are praised in virtually every aspect of society except the family court system. Instead, our innate instincts to protect our young is weaponised against us.” This sentiment resonates deeply with many single mothers who feel penalized for fighting for their children’s well-being.

Changing this damaging narrative does not fall on the shoulders of the women who feel victimized, nor does it rely on the men who may see the system as a safe haven. The responsibility for change rests squarely with the courts themselves. The solution requires courts that are impervious to corruption, that refuse to be bought.

We can only wish the women who walk these daunting corridors the immense strength to see their mission through. They need the courage to keep their roar when they feel they have become the hunted. Ultimately, the hope lies with the men and women working within this system to uphold their duty, to refrain from selling the justice that keeps countless children in unwarranted poverty. The fight against corruption in South Africa must include justice for its youngest citizens and the parents who struggle to support them. ...Click to Read More >>➤