The age of dependency for child maintenance has essentially been raised to 18.

Founder of Child Maintenance Difficulties in South Africa, Felicity Guest, says that many 18-year-olds are either still in school, or are still in need of financial support.

She was speaking as the Supreme Court of Appeal has ruled that divorced parents are still liable to pay child maintenance, even when their child reaches the age of 18.

Guest says that its rare that children will try to con the system and seek State funding instead of finding work or tertiary education.