Deducted cash still not paid

AN EAST London panelbeating company is in hot water for allegedly defying a court order for failing to transfer maintenance money deducted from a former employee.

The company is accused of failing to transfer more than R5 200 it had deducted from the former employee in August.

The money was meant for the employee’s former partner as a maintenance payment in terms of a court order.

The East London Maintenance Court earlier this year issued the garnishee order to DC Collision Repair Centre to deduct the money from an employee who had failed to support his 11-year-old daughter.

The girl’s mother, who cannot be named to protect the identity of her minor daughter, had to approach lawyers last month after noticing her monthly transfer had not been paid despite the money being deducted from the father who has since left the company.

The distraught mother said she was facing a tough Christmas without the money.

DC Collision Repair Centre has since changed its name to Suburban Accident Repair Centre.

The company was recently in the news after it failed to repair and deliver a vehicle belonging to former ANC provincial spokesman Phaki Hobongwana, despite the fact he had paid more than R100 000.

The vehicle has since been repaired and delivered to Hobongwana.

Responding to emailed questions, company owner Damian De Cruz said he was not aware the payment had not been made. He said another former employee had been dealing with the matter.

De Cruz said the payment should have been made immediately after the deduction came off and he would sort the matter out soon.

This follows a lawyer’s letter from the mother’s attorneys urging the company to pay up or face being charged for violation of a court order.

The girl’s father has been in and out of court in recent years over his failure to pay maintenance.