Show us some R-E-S-P-E-C-T, insist women

WOMEN at Swakopmund this week handed over a petition with 82 signatures to the Magistrate to drive home their frustrations over the handling of monthly maintenance payments.

“We are not beggars,” said Sophia Motinga, newly elected UDF Town Councillor, who spoke on behalf of the women. Reading from the petition, she asked that the more than 200 women who collect maintenance at the court house every month be treated with dignity and respect.The women list three problems they have with the payout system and conditions at the court.They charge that the time allocated for payouts from 14h00 on Wednesdays is not enough.”The day is chaotic and the queues are too long,” said Motinga.They are demanding longer hours and that payouts be made twice a week.The second problem highlighted by the women are unfriendly conditions at the court.”There are no benches outside, we have to stand on our feet for hours to wait our turn.All windows in the corridor are closed and there is no ventilation.”In the petition they ask for a women-friendly environment.The last point concerns the “destructive behaviour of maintenance officers”.They claim that the officer is unskilled, inexperienced and rude.The petition claims that the officer abuses her authority and interferes with and delays court orders, refuses to take up complaints, does not assist with the filling in of claim forms and discriminates against some women.”We have even been told if we do not keep quiet, payments will be stopped,” said the spokesperson.According to Motinga, women encounter the same attitude in other Ministries dealing with women and children.The women are asking for quality administration, good organisation, feedback, clear information, helpfulness, good communication and sensitivity to their needs.Another concern raised by Motinga is that many women do not know their rights as contained in the Maintenance Act of 2003.”Some of us stand here for as little as N$50 or N$80 for children aged 12 to 16 years.The Bill states clearly that the duty of maintenance must be fairly shared.Do you think we are sharing this responsibility equally when only N$50 per month is contributed and some months are skipped?” Motinga charged that the maintenance officer did not inform women of their rights and what amount they could rightfully claim.All the women who took part in the protest had a story to tell about their monthly struggle with the system.Monica Gases from Henties Bay said it was highly frustrating to be told there was no money after all the trouble she had taken to find a lift to get to Swakopmund.Magistrate Gibson Imbili accepted the petition and suggested to Motinga that she get a committee of women together to meet with him.”We can sit and sort out your grievances,” he said.In defence of the maintenance officers, Gerda Engelbrecht, the chief legal clerk told the press afterwards the office was understaffed with three people and there was only one maintenance clerk to do all the work.”I have taken it up with the Ministry of Justice and hopefully we will have another clerk from September 1.”Reading from the petition, she asked that the more than 200 women who collect maintenance at the court house every month be treated with dignity and respect.The women list three problems they have with the payout system and conditions at the court.They charge that the time allocated for payouts from 14h00 on Wednesdays is not enough.”The day is chaotic and the queues are too long,” said Motinga.They are demanding longer hours and that payouts be made twice a week.The second problem highlighted by the women are unfriendly conditions at the court.”There are no benches outside, we have to stand on our feet for hours to wait our turn.All windows in the corridor are closed and there is no ventilation.”In the petition they ask for a women-friendly environment.The last point concerns the “destructive behaviour of maintenance officers”.They claim that the officer is unskilled, inexperienced and rude.The petition claims that the officer abuses her authority and interferes with and delays court orders, refuses to take up complaints, does not assist with the filling in of claim forms and discriminates against some women.”We have even been told if we do not keep quiet, payments will be stopped,” said the spokesperson.According to Motinga, women encounter the same attitude in other Ministries dealing with women and children.The women are asking for quality administration, good organisation, feedback, clear information, helpfulness, good communication and sensitivity to their needs.Another concern raised by Motinga is that many women do not know their rights as contained in the Maintenance Act of 2003.”Some of us stand here for as little as N$50 or N$80 for children aged 12 to 16 years.The Bill states clearly that the duty of maintenance must be fairly shared.Do you think we are sharing this responsibility equally when only N$50 per month is contributed and some months are skipped?” Motinga charged that the maintenance officer did not inform women of their rights and what amount they could rightfully claim.All the women who took part in the protest had a story to tell about their monthly struggle with the system.Monica Gases from Henties Bay said it was highly frustrating to be told there was no money after all the trouble she had taken to find a lift to get to Swakopmund.Magistrate Gibson Imbili accepted the petition and suggested to Motinga that she get a committee of women together to meet with him.”We can sit and sort out your grievances,” he said.In defence of the maintenance officers, Gerda Engelbrecht, the chief legal clerk told the press afterwards the office was understaffed with three people and there was only one maintenance clerk to do all the work.”I have taken it up with the Ministry of Justice and hopefully we will have another clerk from September 1.”