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STRUGGLING: Granny Lucy Manya feeds her large family by digging in dustbins.

TOUGH TIMES: Some of 11 grandchildren living with Manya in her three-room RDP house in Pimville.PHOTOS: VELI NHLAPO

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LUCY Manya spends most her time scavenging in dustbins to feed the 17 mouths dependent on her.

Manya, 68, of Pimville, Soweto, goes to Maponya Mall most evenings with her older grandchildren to scavenge in dustbins for food when their donations run out.

"Everyone is dependent on me. It was better when some of them used to work.

"When the food runs out, we ask from neighbours but I would rather pick up food that's thrown away, wash it thoroughly and cook it," said Manya.

Living with her in their three-room RDP home are five of Manya's children and 11 grandchildren aged between less than a year and 20 years.

The family's biggest challenge is their three surnames. In fact, two are the same but are spelt differently. The third is Manya's maiden name which she decided to use, hoping it would resolve the problem.

"The spelling of my deceased husband's surname is different from mine and the children's.

"Whenever I try to fix this, officials refer to my husband's details, which don't match with ours."

As a result of the confusion, only Manya and three of her grandchildren receive government grants, while some of her adult dependants do not have ID books.

Home Affairs official Benjamin Khoza said they were aware of  the confusion and would visit the family to help them with the surname and ID books.

Manya started having to dig for food in 2010 when she lost her ID book and could not get her pension grant for six months.

To make ends meet she would clean toilets, recycle plastic bottles and papers and sell whatever useful thing she picked up.

Of the five adult children, one limps, the other is mentally ill and another is epileptic.

However, Manya said the epileptic child was declared dead by Home Affairs.

The other two are unemployed.

Manya's five other children have died.

Of her 11 grandchildren, eight go to school.

Fortunately, the family gets 30.4 units of free prepaid electricity every first day of the month.

The household survives on only R1,480 per month.

Manya admits that the worst days are when the school-going children have an outing.

"When there are school trips, I lose my mind because sometimes I cannot provide."

The Department of Social Development's Solly Ndweni said they would send social workers to assess and identify the family's needs.

"We still struggle but it's not like before. People give us clothes and blankets more often," said Manya.

One of Manya's wishes is to get her house fixed.

- monnakgotlam@sowetan.co.za

Comments

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Wed May 22 11:29:26 SAST 2013 ::

Aug 20, 2012

rollingdeep

WOW!!! wonder wen will dis HOME AFFAIRS nightmares come to an end....
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Aug 20, 2012

mambozana

Where are the childrens parents? please people stop having unprotected sex if you cant take care of your children, living them with grandparents whom you dont even support. Valani amathanga please.
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Aug 20, 2012

br33

hai suka nna ke lapile ke batho ba tla dirang bana ba bantshi ba tseba gore ba hlophega nxa!
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Aug 20, 2012

Xinyelababeni

@Mambozana dont come here and expose yourself boss. didnt you hear 5 of them past away. clearly common sense is not common to you or you are rather heartless.
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Aug 20, 2012

Chichi7

Free clinics for the damn condoms and contraceptives, free RDP house, Govt grant and so on..... what more do they want the Govt to do?

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Aug 20, 2012

thandoluhle

Xinyelababeni
@Mambozana dont come here and expose yourself boss. didnt you hear 5 of them past away. clearly common sense is not common to you or you are rather heartless.
........................
ok but did they have have the children alone?
where are the other parents of the kids?
why allow all your children have kids without marriage???
why did she have so many kids when she's clearly jobless and lacking any skills she can trade with?

OH I KNOW---WAITING FOR GOVERNMENT GRANTS!!!!!
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Aug 20, 2012

Tsatsatsa

It amazing how fast they (Government Departments) when Newspapers intervenes. This is the plight of millions other families in our country......

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Aug 20, 2012

thandoluhle

MORALS OF THIS STORY

- don't make babies if you are not married or at least in a committed relationship with a responsible partner
- don't make babies if you are not ready
-dont make babies if you don't have a job or a roof over your head
-dont make babies and dump then on your parents because you cannot care for them


STOP BRINGING BABIES INTO THIS WORLD TO SURFER

SIES MAN!!!!!!
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Aug 20, 2012

Xinyelababeni

@Thandoluhle I dont think what you are saying is fair to this old woman. how many children break the parent's rules. clearly this woman didnt go and sleep around her children did and unfortunately she is the one who has to live with the consequences.
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Aug 20, 2012

McLoving

Ezi b'hlungu azipheli!! Sorry magriza kuzo lunga.
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