In December Soweto father Richard Seyaka was sentenced to 2400 hours in prison for falling to pay R500 monthly maintenance.

In December Soweto father Richard Seyaka was sentenced to 2400 hours in prison for falling to pay R500 monthly maintenance.

But Seyaka, who is about to complete the seven-and-a-half months of periodical imprisonment, says he would rather be sentenced again than pay maintenance for his two children.

Sowetan reported that the 49-year-old father was sentenced to 2400 hours last December for violating the maintenance order.

He started serving his time from Fridays at 5pm to Sundays at 5pm.

Seyaka, of Protea Glen in Soweto, does not seem to have learnt his lesson.

His ex-wife, Sibongile, told Sowetan that Seyaka continues to ignore the maintenance order despite raking in "a lot of money" as a self-employed carpenter.

"He has not paid a cent since January," Sibongile said. "To make matters worse he just sold our house for R280000. We are going to be evicted. I am hurt because I rescued that house when it was about to be repossessed. I managed to pay off the bond."

She reported Seyaka at the Johannesburg family court yesterday.

A legal expert explained: "Any noncompliance is contempt of court. The court can even alter the current sentence and send him straight to jail."

But Seyaka, who confirmed selling the family home, remains unperturbed.

"I will serve any additional sentence," he said. "My business is not doing well. I don't have any intention of using the money I made from the sale of the house for my maintenance arrears."

This despite the fact that Seyaka still has 1000 hours of jail time hanging over his head. These hours were suspended for three years at his sentencing last December.