Some say they have not received maintenance payments processed by court officials since the start of the lockdown, while others, like Mthembu, have not been paid since February.

Another woman from Sobantu, who asked not to be named, told GroundUp that her issues with the maintenance court preceded the lockdown.

Phiri told GroundUp that the court lost many payment requests when the system crashed on 4 May.

Phiri said beneficiaries of maintenance payments should tell courts that they have not been paid, so officials could check the system and make the necessary payments.

Phiri said the department could only process maintenance payments to one parent, where the schedules of deductions from the other parent's salary had been sent by the employer.