It is accepted in the South African law that if neither parent can support or maintain the child, the
duty passes on to the grandparents, both maternal and paternal.
But what happens if neither the child’s parents nor grandparents are in a position to provide support,
then that duty will pass to the child’s siblings, according to their respective income. This is on the
proviso that the child who claims maintenance is indeed completely indigent. This duty of support
between siblings applies to sisters, brothers, half-sisters and half-brothers.