Accused can only afford R300 per month maintenance (“papgeld”), but eventually receives R75 000!

- Minister of Justice (First Appellant) and Minister of Police (Second Appellant) v Masia 2021 (2) SACR 425 (GP)

Picture the following: On 6 August 2013, Mr Thabo Toka Mack Masia (hereinafter referred to as “Masia”) presented himself by appointment at the Atteridgeville Magistrates’ Court in Pretoria before a maintenance (“papgeld”) officer for an enquiry in terms of the Maintenance Act 99 of 1998 pertaining to the maintenance of his minor child. However, when the matter could not be resolved, the maintenance officer referred the matter to the maintenance court magistrate for adjudication (Afrikaans: “bereg-ting/beoordeling”).

Here Masia adduced evidence regarding his income and expenditure to enable the court to make an order regarding the maintenance payable in respect of the maintenance of his minor child. Subsequent to adducing evidence, Masia offered to pay maintenance in the amount of R300 per month.

The presiding magistrate, however, rejected this offer and then ordered the arrest and detention of Masia in the Atteridgeville Police Station cells for one night. Accordingly, Masia was arrested by W/O Letlape and detained to go and think clearly and thoroughly and to come up with a better offer.

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[This is only an extract of an article published in Pollex in Servamus: June 2022. If you are interested in reading the rest of the article, send an e-mail to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to find out what you need to do. Ed.]

Servamus - August 2022

In these tough economic times one cannot blame people if they want their money to grow, especially when good returns are promised, as in the case of cryptocurrencies.

By Kotie Geldenhuys

Diamonds are forever and so are the scams

Diamonds are not only one of the most beautiful gemstones, it is also the most durable substance known to mankind.

By Kotie Geldenhuys

In a country where 7.9 million people are unemployed (StatsSA, 2022), it comes as no surprise that many people fall for employment scams.

By Kotie Geldenhuys

Every year, more and more light is shed on the cruelty behind the breeding industry that is often kept hidden from the public by breeders.

Article and photos provided by the National Council of SPCAs

Pollex - August 2022

Code of Conduct: Operation Prosper

General Notice 642 of 2021, issued in terms of section 19(2) of the Defence Act 42 of 2002 by the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans is published in Government Gazette No 45419 dated 2 November 2021.

Outsource and/or privatise powers and functions of the Correctional Services

Introduction Have you, the reader (in particular law enforcement officers) ever heard of the following?

Letters - August 2022

Book competition winners

Congratulations to the following Servamus subscribers who have each won a book in the past few months’ book review competitions:

Reunion group reaches out to Tlapu family

A resolution adopted in 2018, by a group of retired and serving members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) to reach out to needy families, recently benefitted the Tlapu family in Tantanana village outside Phokeng, Rustenburg.