AN ENTREPRENEUR is touting dagga as the answer to the Western Cape’s housing woes.
Andre du Plessis, a former IT specialist from Cape Town, has proposed turning dagga (cannabis) plants into bricks to build low-cost homes at a fraction of the price of conventional building materials.
Du Plessis said about 10% of the plant — the leaves and flowers which are smoked — was “illegal” because of its intoxicating effect.
But parts of the stalk, which is also used to make rope, could be crushed and mixed with substances like lime, water and river sand to manufacture bricks.
Du Plessis, 35, claimed that the homes built from cannabis bricks would be fire-, water- and soundproof.
Du Plessis insisted that the bricks would be “impossible to smoke” as they would not contain the flowers or leaves of the weed.
He is not the only supporter of cannabis homes.
In Australia this year, close to 2.5 million plants were harvested by Dr Keith Bolton from the Southern Cross University to construct two homes, according to the university’s website.
Magnus de Jongh, spokesman for Western Cape Housing MEC Marius Fransman, said more than 300,000 homes were needed in the province.
“It is a challenge we are faced with. The minister instructed a housing reference group to look at alternatives.
“Cannabis bricks are an alternative. But we must have alternatives that are in line with legal requirements,” said De Jongh.
Du Plessis said a 23m² RDP house cost about R17000 to build and that, “I can build an 82m² house for the same price”.
He said that instead of being destroyed by police, the plants could be used to help thousands of homeless people.
In 1999, Du Plessis applied to the Agricultural Research Council for a permit to grow the plants to start his housing project — but he is still waiting for a decision.
