'The judge ruled that the child stays where it is at the time of lockdown'
With the clock ticking down to the start of South Africa's 21-day lockdown, there is still no clear directive on the position of divorced or separated parents when it comes to visitation rights.
It's becoming clear that children will not be able to move between parents during this period.
John Maytham speaks to Felicity Guest, founder of Child Maintenance Difficulties in South Africa (CMDSA), which aims to empower, educate and support single parents.
She confirms that at this stage it seems there is no recourse for a parent who wants court visitation rights enforced.
Guest reports that a precedent-setting case was brought before the Gauteng High Court on an urgent basis. (Guest mistakenly said Durban but the case was in Johannesburg.)
The judge ruled categorically that this is uncharted territory and the child stays where it is at the time of lockdown.
Felicity Guest, Founder - Child Maintenance Difficulties in South Africa
But what is going to be considered urgent at the courts now? Right now, the focus is on responsibility of every single citizen... the parents being responsible for their children's wellbeing which is in the Children's Act, and that is to keep the child safe and the outlines are the Disaster Act.
Felicity Guest, Founder - Child Maintenance Difficulties in South Africa
Guest says it is best for parents to accept the restrictions and for the primary caregiver to be generous with the amount of contact allowed using technology.
... whether it's video, skyping, whatsapp messages, phone calls - just be considerate, because the other parent is going through their own emotional response to this.
Felicity Guest, Founder - Child Maintenance Difficulties in South Africa
We all just have to be compassionate towards each other.
Felicity Guest, Founder - Child Maintenance Difficulties in South Africa
She also cautions that whatever a parent's behaviour during lockdown, it can be held against them in court later through litigation.
Listen to the complete conversation in the audio below:
More from Local

Covid-19 can be easily tweaked to adjust to new strains, explains NICD prof
.John Maytham speaks to Professor Lynn Morris, principal medical scientist and head of HIV Virology at the NICD.
Read More
Southern Africa braces for impact as tropical storm Eloise intensifies
Live in Limpopo, Mpumalanga or KZN? Brace yourself! Tropical storm Eloise, expected to make landfall near Beira, is intensifying.
Read More
10% drop in festive season road deaths, but no reduction in real terms, says AA
Travel restrictions in lockdown level 3 likely contributed to the fewer road deaths over the festive season says Layton Beard.
Read More
Suspect arrested after selling canned food used for WC school feeding scheme
Education MEC Debbie Schäfer says a suspected thief has been arrested for profiting from canned food that's meant for vulnerable learners.
Read More
Prof Tulio de Oliveira reveals how the new Covid-19 variant in SA was identified
Virus hunter Prof Tulio de Oliveira has been credited for discovering the new variant of Covid-19 driving the second wave in South Africa.
Read More
Virgin Active responds to customer complaint about gym ventilation
'We do allow the clubs to open windows and doors' but the ventilation systems remain key, explains Virgin Active's Derek du Preez.
Read More
Sarb interest rate decision will hurt economy and property market - Samuel Seeff
There was ample reason for a cut says the Seeff group. 'We've missed an opportunity' laments its chairperson, Samuel Seeff.
Read More
Ginger shortage impacting ginger beer quality and price - SA producer
Yamama Gemmer prides itself on using the best-quality imported ginger. Now it's forced to source the spice from wherever it can.
Read More
No further repo rate cut says Reserve Bank, increases expected in both Q2 and Q3
The SA Reserve Bank has announced the repo rate is unchanged at 3.5%. 'I would have cut!' declares economist Xhanti Payi.
Read More
Police watchdog Ipid to track down victims in SAPS sjambok video for own probe
Police watchdog Ipid says investigators are working to identify the two men who were assaulted by Worcester police officers on camera.
Read More