THE South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) in North West has registered 257 children living in Verdwaal for child support grants. Seven of them will receive foster care grants by the end of this month.

The news follows an article Sowetan published two weeks ago about the fate of four children from a destitute local family. The four children from Verdwaal village went on a tragic search for their mother who had left them while she went to apply for an identity document.

The children died of hunger and thirst after walking many kilometres in search of their mother.

Sassa spokesman Smangaliso Selemeni said on Friday that as a result of the tragedy, the body had embarked on a programme to register people who qualify for grants, especially in rural areas.

"Most people here can't travel to our office, so we decided to bring the services to them. We are sending out a message that no matter where you live, government services can and will come to you," Selemeni said.

The campaign follows the outcry after the death of the four children over the large number of residents who are not receiving grants.

Many residents of the area did not have identity documents and birth certificates and for this reason were not able to receive grants.

Resident Rebecca Serake could not hold back tears when an official told her that her long wait was over.

By the end of the month all her children and her grandchildren will receive grants.

"This is a relief. I feel as if God is answering my prayers," she said.

Serake, 52, heads a family of 28. She has five children and 18 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Sassa has now registered 15 of them to receive child support grants.

"I am happy, I am sure that now we will live like royalty," said an ecstatic Serake.

Lizzy Ntwayagae said she had waited almost four years for her grandchildren's foster care grants to be approved. "I applied for foster care in 2007," she said.