The issue of exploitation in child support is a complex matter that has many dimensions and far-reaching implications beyond financial matters. Parents may exploit the system to avoid fulfilling their responsibilities and children may become pawns in custody battles.

We follow a case where The High Court in Pretoria rejected a mother's claim for an increase in child maintenance from R28 500 to R35 629,42 per month, which also included a retroactive claim amounting to a total of R234,000. The High Court declined the mother's application, despite the existing R28 500 monthly support from her estranged husband.

To further unpack we talk Kamogelo Lekubu-Wilderson, Director of  Maintenance Services at the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development