There are growing trends of parents moving outside the country
and leaving their children behind. It is not far from home to talk
about a father who has left his wife and child in Zimbabwe and
relocated to South Africa. These scenarios are a breeding ground
for irresponsible parents to neglect their minor children. Our law
is, however, alive to such predicaments and has provided for
maintenance across borders.
What is Maintenance across borders?
Maintenance across borders is a concept which relates to the
facilitation of the enforcement of maintenance orders made by a
court from one country to another country. Suffice to state is that
the child's best interest is always of paramount importance in
the eyes of the law when dealing with maintenance cases. It
therefore, follows that any person recognized by the law as a
responsible person, is liable to maintain his or her child. A
responsible person would typically be the biological parent of that
child.
