AFTER struggling for years to get an identity document, Keneilwe Makati finally received her correct ID from the Department of Home Affairs.

Makati is one of 68-year-old Lucy Manya's 16 dependents who share a three-roomed RDP house in Pimville, Soweto.

Manya was forced to feed herself and her dependents from handouts and food she dug out of rubbish bins.

Makati, 31, a mother of seven, said her life would finally change for the better now that she had an ID book with her correct surname.

Makati's family survive on R1480 a month. The family is made up of Manya's five children and 11 grandchildren.

Their biggest challenge was their three surnames, two of which were the same but spelt differently.

The third is Manya's maiden name, which she decided to use, hoping it would resolve the problem.

Manya expressed her gratitude for the help she had received from the public since Sowetan reported the family's plight.

"I am so happy and grateful. I know now Keneilwe will be able to go and get birth certificates for her children. They will receive grants and she can also get a job.

"Because of the donations, I am no longer the laughing stock of my neighbours. We still have enough supplies and there will be no reason for me to beg anymore," said Manya.

The Department of Home Affairs' Benjamin Khoza said people should not relax when it came to changing mistakes in their identity books.

"When a mistake is made it can be corrected, and never keep quite," he said.