SA is already exporting what could turn out to be the solution to the domestic housing crisis, writes Sipho Masondo
IT IS no secret that the South African government is struggling to provide houses for the masses. The housing department says there is a backlog of about 2,4-million houses, despite construction of almost the same number since 1994.
However, a home-grown “instant housing” technology is being used successfully in a number of countries, and questions have been raised because it is not being used in local mass construction projects.
Port Elizabeth entrepreneur Hennie Botes has been successfully exporting his “instant housing” technology for the past decade. His company, Moladi, markets his idea mainly to third world countries like Panama, Mexico, Angola, Botswana, Brazil and Kenya…
“It is simple to mould the planned house and cast it with brick or block material,” he says. “This eliminates the slow process of construction, although obviously the moulded shutter has to be strong enough to withstand the pressure of the mortar.”
The mortar dries within 24 hours and is then ready to receive the top structure, plumbing, conduit window and door frames.
The advantages of such houses, Botes says, is the speed and quality of construction. They do not require skilled labour. The houses are socially acceptable, in that they are solid rather than prefabricated, and banks have no problem granting bonds with the structure as collateral.
“It reduces time, waste and cost, and eliminates chasing for plumbing and electrical pipe work, plastering and beam filling. It’s a cost effective, holistic design-and-build technology that far outweighs poorly designed costly concrete-block and masonry structures,” he says… Business Day - News Worth Knowing
IT IS no secret that the South African government is struggling to provide houses for the masses. The housing department says there is a backlog of about 2,4-million houses, despite construction of almost the same number since 1994.
However, a home-grown “instant housing” technology is being used successfully in a number of countries, and questions have been raised because it is not being used in local mass construction projects.
Port Elizabeth entrepreneur Hennie Botes has been successfully exporting his “instant housing” technology for the past decade. His company, Moladi, markets his idea mainly to third world countries like Panama, Mexico, Angola, Botswana, Brazil and Kenya…
“It is simple to mould the planned house and cast it with brick or block material,” he says. “This eliminates the slow process of construction, although obviously the moulded shutter has to be strong enough to withstand the pressure of the mortar.”
The mortar dries within 24 hours and is then ready to receive the top structure, plumbing, conduit window and door frames.
The advantages of such houses, Botes says, is the speed and quality of construction. They do not require skilled labour. The houses are socially acceptable, in that they are solid rather than prefabricated, and banks have no problem granting bonds with the structure as collateral.
“It reduces time, waste and cost, and eliminates chasing for plumbing and electrical pipe work, plastering and beam filling. It’s a cost effective, holistic design-and-build technology that far outweighs poorly designed costly concrete-block and masonry structures,” he says… Business Day - News Worth Knowing
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