South Africa
Maintenance Act, 1998
Act 99 of 1998
- Published in Government Gazette 19513 on 27 November 1998
- Assented to on 19 November 1998
- There are multiple commencements
- [This is the version of this document from 5 January 2018.]
Provisions | Status |
---|---|
Chapter 1 (section 1–2); Chapter 2, section 3–4; Chapter 3, subpart, section 6, section 7(1)(a), 7(1)(b), 7(1)(c), section 8; subpart (section 9–11); subpart (section 12–14); Chapter 4 (section 15–25); Chapter 5 (section 26–30); Chapter 6 (section 31–39); Chapter 7 (section 40–41); Chapter 8 (section 42–47) | commenced on 26 November 1999 by Proclamation R116 of 1999. |
Chapter 3, subpart, section 10(1A) | commenced on 31 March 2005. |
Chapter 2, section 5; Chapter 3, subpart, section 7(1)(d), 7(2) |
commenced on 1 November 2006
by Proclamation R46 of 2006.
Note: Commencement of section 7(2)(b) only in so far it relates to the service of process of any maintenance court. |
Chapter 3, subpart, section 6(1)(c); subpart, section 10(6); Chapter 4, subpart, section 16(2)(a)(dd), section 18(1)(a)(i), 18(1)(a)(ii), 18(1)(b)(i), 18(1)(b)(ii), section 20(a), 20(b); Chapter 5, section 28(1)(c), 28(1)(d); Chapter 6, section 39A | commenced on 9 September 2015. |
Chapter 3, subpart, section 7(3); Chapter 5, section 26(2A) | commenced on 5 January 2018. |
- [Amended by Judicial Matters Amendment Act, 2001 (Act 42 of 2001) on 7 December 2001]
- [Amended by Judicial Matters Second Amendment Act, 2003 (Act 55 of 2003) on 31 March 2005]
- [Amended by Judicial Matters Amendment Act, 2005 (Act 22 of 2005) on 1 November 2006]
- [Amended by Jurisdiction of Regional Courts Amendment Act, 2008 (Act 31 of 2008) on 9 August 2010]
- [Amended by Maintenance Amendment Act, 2015 (Act 9 of 2015) on 9 September 2015]
- [Amended by Maintenance Amendment Act, 2015 (Act 9 of 2015) on 5 January 2018]
Chapter 1
Interpretation and application of Act
1. Definitions
2. Application of Act
Chapter 2
Maintenance courts and court officers
3. Maintenance courts
Every magistrate's court for a district, established in terms of section 2(1)(e) of the Magistrates' Courts Act, 1944 (Act No. 32 of 1944), is within its area of jurisdiction a maintenance court for the purposes of this Act.[section 3 substituted by section 10(2) of Act 31 of 2008]4. Maintenance officers
5. Maintenance investigators
Chapter 3
Maintenance enquiries
Complaints and investigations
6. Complaints relating to maintenance
7. Investigation of complaints
8. Examination of persons by maintenance officer
The enquiry
9. Maintenance officer may cause witnesses to be subpoenaed
10. Enquiry by maintenance court
11. Rights and privileges of witnesses
Documental evidence
12. Proof of statements in writing by consent
13. Evidence and findings of fact recorded in respect of existing maintenance order
14. Proof of entries in accounting records and documentation of banks
The provisions of section 236 of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977 (Act No. 51 of 1977), shall, with the necessary changes, apply in respect of the enquiry.Chapter 4
Maintenance and other orders
15. Duty of parents to support their children
Orders
16. Maintenance and ancillary orders
17. Orders by consent
18. Orders by default
19. Variation or setting aside of certain orders
A maintenance court that has made an order under section 16(1)(a)(i) or (b)(i) may, at the request of the maintenance officer—20. Orders as to costs of service and directions
The maintenance court holding an enquiry may, having regard to the conduct of the persons involved in the enquiry so far as it may be relevant, make such order as the maintenance court may consider just relating to the costs of—21. Orders relating to scientific tests regarding paternity
Administrative provisions
22. Notice of substitution or discharge of maintenance orders
Whenever a maintenance court—23. Transfer of maintenance orders
Effect of orders, and appeals
24. Effect of orders of maintenance court
25. Appeals against orders
Chapter 5
Civil execution
26. Enforcement of maintenance or other orders
27. Warrants of execution
28. Attachment of emoluments
29. Notice relating to attachment of emoluments
30. Attachment of debts
Chapter 6
Offences and penalties
31. Offences relating to maintenance orders
32. Offences relating to examination of persons by maintenance officer
33. Offences relating to witnesses
34. Offences relating to false information
35. Offences relating to maintenance enquiries
Any person who wilfully interrupts the proceedings at a maintenance enquiry or who wilfully hinders or obstructs the maintenance court in the performance of the maintenance court’s functions at the enquiry shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year or to both a fine and such imprisonment.[section 35 substituted by section 14 of Act 9 of 2015]36. Offences relating to publication of information in respect of children
37. Offences relating to disclosure
Any person who, except for the purposes of performing his or her functions under this Act or when required to do so by any court or under any law, discloses to any other person any information acquired by that person in the performance of that person's functions under this Act shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding twelve months or to both such fine and such imprisonment.38. Offences relating to certain notices
Any person who—39. Offences relating to notice of change of address
Any person who refuses or fails to give notice of any change of his or her place of residence or employment as required by section 16(4) shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year.[section 39 substituted by section 16 of Act 9 of 2015]39A. Offences relating to maintenance investigators
Chapter 7
Orders relating to prosecutions
40. Recovery of arrear maintenance
41. Conversion of criminal proceedings into maintenance enquiry
If during the course of any proceedings in a magistrate’s court in respect of—Chapter 8
General and supplementary provisions
42. Record of proceedings at maintenance enquiries
43. Photographs of persons subject to maintenance orders
44. Regulations
45. Repeal or amendment of laws, and savings
46. Transitional arrangements in respect of execution of maintenance or other orders
Until such time as regulations relating to the execution of maintenance or other orders of maintenance courts made under section 44(1)(d) or (e) come into operation, the provisions—47. Short title and commencement
History of this document
05 January 2018 this version
Amended by
Maintenance Amendment Act, 2015
Commenced
09 September 2015
09 August 2010
01 November 2006
Amended by
Judicial Matters Amendment Act, 2005
Commenced by
Maintenance Act, 1998: Commencement
Read this version
Note: Commencement of section 7(2)(b) only in so far it relates to the service of process of any maintenance court.
31 March 2005
07 December 2001
26 November 1999
Commenced by
Maintenance Act, 1998: Commencement
27 November 1998
19 November 1998
Assented to
Subsidiary legislation
Title | Numbered title |
---|---|
Regulations relating to Maintenance, 1999 | Government Notice R1361 of 1999 |
Regulations relating to Maintenance: Amendment | Government Notice R1099 of 2006 |
Regulations relating to Maintenance: Amendment | Government Notice R1473 of 2017 |
Regulations relating to Maintenance: Amendment | Government Notice R966 of 2017 |
Cited documents 15
Legislation 15
1. | Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 | 4488 citations |
2. | Criminal Procedure Act, 1977 | 3591 citations |
3. | Magistrates' Courts Act, 1944 | 2704 citations |
4. | Income Tax Act, 1962 | 1590 citations |
5. | Pension Funds Act, 1956 | 1510 citations |
6. | Electronic Communications Act, 2005 | 914 citations |
7. | Divorce Act, 1979 | 206 citations |
8. | Rules Board for Courts of Law Act, 1985 | 188 citations |
9. | Mediation in Certain Divorce Matters Act, 1987 | 64 citations |
10. | Protection from Harassment Act, 2011 | 48 citations |
11. | Maintenance Act, 1963 | 42 citations |
12. | Special Courts for Blacks Abolition Act, 1986 | 29 citations |
13. | Justice Laws Rationalisation Act, 1996 | 24 citations |
14. | Judicial Matters Amendment Act, 1996 | 16 citations |
15. | General Law Sixth Amendment Act, 1993 | 13 citations |
Documents citing this one 113
Judgment 56
Gazette 46
Legislation 10
Law Reform Report 1
1. | Investigation into Legal Fees - Including Access to Justice and Other Interventions - Project 142 |