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Today, I have written to the heads of the major credit bureaus in South Africa (TransUnion, Experian SA, XDS and CompuScan) as well as to the National Credit Regulator, Nomsa Motshegare, for an urgent meeting to discuss how maintenance defaulters can be held responsible with the full force of the law.

Ms Motshegare has already agreed to a meeting next week.
 
I have also written to Minister Rob Davies to discuss the DA’s call for urgent new credit legislation to ensure that the credit system works to protect single parents, and not those who default on their child maintenance.
 
The Maintenance Act of 1998 makes provision for the ‘blacklisting’ of defaulters with credit bureaus.
 
However, this is currently not happening. People who don’t pay their bills have their credit record affected, but child maintenance defaulters do not.
 
Child maintenance is a legally binding agreement to pay regularly and on time, and failure to do so should carry real consequences.
 
Millions of single parents face the daily struggle to provide for their children and give them opportunities that every child deserves.  
 
By ensuring maintenance orders are honoured, the plight of these single–parent households can be eased.
 
Those who fail to meet their maintenance commitments must be brought to book.  
 
The DA will continue to work tirelessly to ensure  the protection of South Africa’s children and their right to a stable upbringing.