A mother seeking financial support to help her daughter pursue a dance career took her case to the Western Cape High Court, requesting an increase in child maintenance to R51,000.
She argued this would enable her 14-year-old daughter to attend a new dance school, a move she believed was necessary for her child’s growth and future in dance.
The mother, who lives in Hermanus with her daughter, described the teenager as a gifted dancer, noting her participation in the 2024 Dance Star Competition in Croatia.
The mother filed an urgent request to ensure her daughter could begin attending the new dance school, Prestige Dance in Somerset West, before the school year started on January 20, 2025.
She claimed the current school in Hermanus no longer offered the opportunities her daughter needed to thrive. Both the child and her teacher reportedly agreed with this assessment.
The mother believed that Prestige Dance was the only institution capable of providing the necessary international exposure, though its location in Somerset West meant a move to Cape Town would be required for convenience.
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The mother stated that she would need R51,000 monthly to cover various expenses, including accommodation, transport, and school fees. She emphasized that failing to secure this opportunity would hinder her daughter’s future prospects.
The mother argued that her ex-husband, who she said had a high income and assets in cryptocurrency and real estate, should contribute to the increased maintenance costs.
However, the father disagreed with the urgency of the application, pointing out that the mother had known about the dance school since September 2024. He claimed she had chosen to bypass mediation and had filed the application too close to the start of the school year.
He also noted he already paid R7,000 monthly and covered his daughter’s other expenses.
Judge Mas-uda Pangarker sided with the father, stating the urgency of the application appeared to be self-created since the mother had ample time to address the issue earlier.
The judge dismissed the request but ordered that the child’s best interests be assessed regarding the relocation and school change, to be conducted by a professional.
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