Last year, 555 parents, who were running away from their responsibilities towards minors and other dependants, were arrested after the courts issued warrants of arrest against them.
Statistics from the 2021/2022 financial year indicate nine magistrate courts around the country issued 555 warrants of arrest against defaulting parents, which were all executed.
Rundu had the highest number of defaulters standing at 194, with Keetmanshoop in second place having arrested 105 defaulting parents, while 1 576 maintenance cases are still being investigated.
The statistics were shared by justice minister Yvonne Dausab during her N$446.3 million budget motivation in parliament on Tuesday.
Dausab said the ministry has since appointed more maintenance officers and investigators who have since been deployed at various courts around the country. The ministry has nine maintenance investigators and eight maintenance officers.
“Through these appointments, the MOJ is able to launch proper investigations into the ability of defendants to pay maintenance and to present evidence before the court in order for the court to make a finding that is consistent with the evidence before it,” explained Dausab.
She added that due to financial constraints, some of the appointments within the maintenance division cannot be made but will be made once the funds are available.
According to Dausab, the guardian fund, which is managed by the Master of the High Court on behalf of minor children, is currently valued at N$2.6 billion. The fund for the financial year of 2021/2022 has paid out N$166.4 million to beneficiaries.
Due to the impact of Covid-19, the Masters of the High Court have been inundated with the applications for deceased’s estates.
A total of 4 692 applications for deceased’s estates were received, of which 3 997 were approved.
Applications for the guardian fund stood at 6 019, of which 4 699 were approved.
“This directorate’s functions continue to have a profound effect on the most vulnerable members of our society, and feedback from members of the public has not been kind – and we are looking to improve this perception to ensure we serve the public better,” noted Dausab.
She further stated it needs adequate funding to enable it to perform its duties hence the allocation of N$19 million.
- mamakali@nepc.com.na