Hemp housing man lays complaint

Against a background of protests about housing delivery, the Western Cape office of the Public Protector confirmed on Tuesday that a complaint was lodged against housing MEC Marius Fransman. 

"We received a complaint of unreasonable delay in responding to the complainant," said provincial public protector Gary Pienaar. 

The complainant is housing innovator Andre du Plessis, who wants to build low-cost cannabis homes. 

In an electronic missive to Pienaar and obtained by Sapa, Du Plessis said he had been trying to develop his project for the past five years. 

Superficial response

Du Plessis said the department of housing and former Western Cape premiers had responded to his requests in a superficial manner. 

"This form of response is unacceptable," said Du Plessis, saying the demand for appropriate affordable fire- and water-proof housing outweighed everything. 

He said since he received the first response in 2001, he could have built 10,000 housing units of 80 square metres each. 

Du Plessis said during the same time he has endeavoured to build appropriate affordable housing, other countries such as Australia, Spain and the United Kingdom have proved that hemp houses could work. 

"As the housing crisis deepens, we can no longer afford delays on behalf of the housing minister or ministry, with regard to correspondence or delivery". 

Private investors keen 

Du Plessis said private investors keen to support his endeavours were being curbed. 

"We will consider the complaint and decide whether we can take action and what form that action will be," said Pienaar. 

Pienaar said Du Plessis would be informed of the decision, with the office possibly arranging a meeting between Fransman and Du Plessis. 

- Sapa 

HSRC Housing delivery report

Pretoria - Unemployment-induced poverty was causing many government housing beneficiaries to move back into shacks, a Human Sciences Research Council report revealed on Tuesday.

“Unemployment is undermining South Africa’s housing delivery strategy,” researcher Catherine Cross said in Pretoria.

Although the government’s housing delivery strategy had made many gains, and had the potential of success, “under the current situation of high unemployment, it is probably an expensive gamble”, she added.

The HSRC released a report on poverty in Gauteng, which Cross said was probably also an accurate reflection of trends elsewhere in the country.

“Serviced housing alone is not going to be enough to overcome poverty,” she said. “There will have to be jobs. It is becoming more and more difficult for people to stay in the houses they’ve got.”

Government housing delivery was supposed to enable beneficiaries to accumulate an asset base and invest in their future.

Permanent entrenchment of shack areas?

But because of unemployment and poverty, many were being unable to afford ordinary household running costs.

Even two social grants per household, in the absence of any other income, were often not enough to make a difference, Cross said.

She questioned the government’s ability to eradicate shack settlements by 2014, and predicted “a permanent entrenchment of shack areas” as the country’s worst case scenario.

She could not say when this point was likely to be reached at the current rate, but said it was not too late to turn the tide.

“I don’t think we are anywhere near the point of no return. We are in a sticky situation, but not lost,” said Cross.

Solutions included cities, the government, business and organised labour working together to create sustainable jobs — although she could not say how this would be achieved.

Easy savings options

The HSRC study found that 32% of “poverty pockets” in Gauteng were not in shack settlements but in metro areas with formal housing and services.

“Many poverty pockets already have formal housing and are still poor. A lot of them are so poor that they may lose their houses and slide back into shacks.”

The study revealed that rural-to-urban migration was not the only cause of poverty in cities, as many policy makers seemed to think.

A bigger problem was cities’ inability to generate sustainable employment.

But urban migration by people seeking a better life threatened to bankrupt cities, Cross said. An accumulating burden of poverty alleviation programmes may undermine city budgets, with subsidies attracting even more migrants.

“Is there a reason to be afraid? To some extent probably.”

Possible solutions included the use of incentives like easy access to housing and service sites, to steer migration to “sustainable” places.

Ways should also be found to make it easier for people who have received government houses to keep them, perhaps through offering easy savings options.

The report is to be presented to Gauteng policy makers and politicians to be used in service delivery plans for the future. - News24

How to build a Cannabrick Home

Peacefully Demonstrated outside the Department of Housing May 7 2005

1. Plant a cannabis seed. Water and allow the plant to grow and produce seed. Plant and water these seeds. Your goal is to grow enough to build a house, you will need about 1 acre to build a 5 roomed home.
   
   Tyala imbewu ntsangu (ye-cannabis). Nkcenkceshela imbewu uze uyinike ithuba lokuba ikhule ide ikhuphe eyayo imbewu. Uyothi ke uyityale nalembewu uyinkcenkceshele njalo. Injongo yakho kukukhulisa izityalo ezothi zonele ekwakheni indlu, uyakudinga i-acre (malunga nentsimi) enye ukuze wakhe indlu enamagumbi amahlanu.
   
   Plant 'n hemp saad. Water en laat die plante om te groei en saad te produseer. Plant en water hierdie sade. Jou doel is om te groei genoeg is om 'n huis bou, jy sal ongeveer een aker benodig om' n 5-kamer huis te bou.
   
   
2. Consider the many relevant points presented in the guidelines of Build your house step-by-step.
   
   Qwalasela yonke imigaqo oyibekelweyo kwincwadana i-Build Your House Step By Step.
   
   Oorweeg die baie relevante punte in die riglyne van die bou van jou huis stap aangebied-vir-stap.
   
   
   
   
   
3. Start planning where your house will stand. Consider everything about the environment you’ll be building in, like winter and summer sunshine, wind and rain – you don’t want to build on a floodplain, or your house will wash away. Be sure to plan all your water and waste requirements.
   
   Ceba indawo ozokwakha kuyo indlu yakho. Qwalasela yonke into ngomhlaba lo uzokwakha kuwo indlu yakho, izinto ezinje ngemimoya, ilanga, neemvula zehlobo nobusika, akekho umntu ofuna ukwakha indlu yakhe emgxobhozweni okanye apho iyothi ibe lilifa lezikhukhula khona. Uqiniseke ukuba unamanzi akulungeleyo ukwenza oku.
   
   Begin met die beplanning, waar jou huis sal staan. Oorweeg dit alles oor die omgewing en jy sal gebou in, soos winter en somer son, wind en reën - jy nie wil bou op 'n vloedvlakte, of jou huis sal wegspoelen nie. Maak seker om te beplan al jou water en afval vereistes voldoen.
   


4. Cut the grown cannabis plants down and leave in the field to rhett for a week. The morning dew and natural rotting process will loosen the fibers from the plant.
   
   a. Process the plant matter by cutting leaves and branches off, then hit small bundles the length of the plant over and upturned rake.
   b. The long fiber parts that remain in your hand are good for weaving rugs and making various other items your skills can accomplish.
   c. The seed can be gathered for more housing.
   d. Gather the small woody bits (the hurd) that have fallen, this waste is what will be used in the construction material.
   
   Sika / sarha izityalo uzibeke egadini ixesha elingangeveki ukuze zibole. Umbethe wasekuseni nezinye izinto zendalo ezibolisayo ziya kuyikhulula I-fibre ezityalweni.
   
   a. Yikhawulezise ngohlukanisa intonga zezityalo namagqabi, uhlale uyiharika rhoqo.
   b. Intonga ezi zinothi zincede kwezinye izinto ezifana nokwenza ingubo nezinye izinto onothi uzibonele zona ngokolwazi lwakho.
   c. Imbewu inokuqokelelwe ukwakha ezinye izindlu.
   d. Qokelela imithana ethe yaziwela njengokuba uzoyisebenzisa xa usakha indlu yakho.
   
   Sny die gegroei hemp/cannabis plante af en in die veld verlaat om rhett vir 'n week. Die oggend-dou en die natuurlike verrotting proses sal die vesel van die plant los te maak.
   
   a. Proses van die plantmateriaal deur te sny blare en takke af, dan is getref klein bundels die lengte van die plant oor en omgekeerde hark.
   b. Die lang vesel dele wat in jou hand bly is goed vir die matte weef en die maak van verskeie ander items jou vaardighede kan bereik.
   c. Die saad kan vir meer behuising ingesamel word.
   d. Versamel die klein houtagtige bits (die hurd) wat gedaal het, die afval is wat sal in die konstruksie materiaal gebruik kan word.
   


5. Wash the hurd, dry it, then wash it again. Be careful not to allow the matter to rot or decay during this process, by turning, airing and allowing the African sun to dry the hurd properly. Now combine in proportions 10:2:3:3 combine the cannabis/ntsangu/dagga Hurd(10), washed river sand 0.5mm(2), hydraulic lime(3) and water(3) to make the mulch (This process may need tweaking depending on your geographic location, humidity, rainfall etc)
   
   Hlamba ingqokelela yakho, uyomise, uphinde uyihlambe.Ulumkele ukuba lengqokelela ibole kwelithuba, yiguquguqule, uyivumele ibethwe ngumoya uvumele nelanga lase Afrika liyomise lengqokelela. Dibanisa ngokwalo mgaqo 10:2:3:3, dibanisa ke lemvuno yakho yomgquba wentsangu (10) kunye nesanti yasemlanjeni 0.5mm(2), ikalika (3) kunye namanzi (3) ukwenza udaka (Nale into ke iyokuthi ixhomekeke kwindawo leyo ukuyo nemvula zakhona njalo-njalo).
   
   Was die kudde, droog dit af, dan was dit weer. Wees versigtig om nie toe te laat die aangeleentheid te verrot of verval gedurende hierdie proses, deur die draai, voorlê en laat die Afrika-son om droog die kudde goed. Nou kombineer in verhoudings 10:2:3:3 kombineer die cannabis / ntsangu / dagga Hurd (10), gewaste riviersand 0.5 mm (2), hidrouliese kalk (3) en water (3) aan die deklaag te maak (Hierdie proses kan tweaking nodig, afhangende van jou geografiese ligging, humiditeit, reën, ens)
   


6. Now build your house! Ngoku ke yakha indlu yakho! Nou bou jou huis!
   


7. Teach others. Fundisa abanye. Onderrig ander.
   
   
   
   

You can use this “dagga-cement” for making bricks, shutter casting or the proven “pole-and-dagga” method. This last method allows for a sturdy, warm, fireproof and water proof home – built with pride and intuitive engineering, not a ‘uniform box’.

Be sure to consider all aspects of your house design and structural requirements. Although the cannabis-cement will become stronger than steel in time, it is not advised to build over 2 floors high without considering structural implications. With planning this cement can be used to build up to 4 floors high.

The cannabis-cement will dry over a period of a month (depending on the weather). At this point you will be able to add the roof. Seal your home’s walls with lime; lime external walls annually. Decorate your house with masonry to make it unique, and paint with coloured lime as per custom.

Always PLANT A TREE in a place that will provide shade, to commemorate this accomplishment.

Council will plant trees if citizens care for them. Call (021) 689-8938 http://www.trees.org.za/

Assist your family, friends or neighbors with your experience and expertise. Share information and technique; you can uplift yourself and your community.

How 'Cannabricks' Can Ease Housing Problem

Cape Town, South Africa -- A Cape Town-based housing innovator who propagates using hemp to curb South Africa's growing housing problem has not ruled out Constitutional Court litigation to compel the government to revise its dagga legislation.

"There is a strong possibility we will initiate litigation, hopefully within this year," said Andre du Plessis. Du Plessis said Cape Town will on Saturday join about 180 cities across 37 nations to highlight the many uses of cannabis. 

Du Plessis said South Africa faces a massive housing backlog, with cost being the biggest prohibitive factor.

He proposes building low-cost houses using hemp.

"The solution must be safe, fireproof, bio-friendly and it should trigger sustainable development and wealth creation from grassroots up. Cannabis is a proven industrial ingredient, and when used to make bricks it provides the best value for money, while meeting all requirements," said Du Plessis in a statement.

He said cannabis has a traditional history in Africa going back almost 5 000 years.

Du Plessis said Saturday's march will be for an end to the prohibition of industrial cannabis use in housing and agriculture.

He said it is important to acknowledge and legitimise the cannabis farming already happening in the country's rural, impoverished areas.

"We will ask our minister of housing to give this legitimate solution a chance."

Du Plessis said dagga, a common name for cannabis, was banned in South Africa in 1909.

South Africa is one of the world's largest producers of dagga, with approximately 120 000ha a year cultivated, using local strains.

At Saturday's march, a memorandum will be delivered to a representative from the Department of Housing, highlighting the use of cannabis in housing and agriculture, and everyone's right to secure ecologically sustainable development.

A five-minute demonstration of "how to build a cannabrick" will follow. -- Sapa

Housing scandal man advising Sisulu

The man who presided over South Africa's biggest housing scandal eight years ago is back -- as special adviser to Minister of Housing Lindiwe Sisulu.

Saths Moodley resigned as executive chair of the Mpumalanga Housing Board in May 1997 as the Mail & Guardian exposed what became known as the Motheo scandal.

In subsequent reports by the auditor general and a provincial commission of inquiry, Moodley shouldered much blame for the irregular award of a R190-million low-cost housing contract to Motheo Construction, a company formed by a friend of then-housing minister Sankie Mthembi-Mahanyele.

Questions about the minister's role remained unanswered. She failed in a R3-million defamation claim against the M&G after it implicated her in the scandal.

Moodley this week referred questions to Sisulu. She was in Brazil and could not be reached for comment, but her spokesperson, Thabang Chiloane, said: "I can safely say that [Sisulu] would have applied her mind to Moodley's appointment.

"The minister would have given due consideration to Moodley's wide national and international experience and would also have taken into account that she needed a candidate to match her own energy."

Chiloane added that Moodley's position was not administrative in nature and was unrelated to the awarding of construction contracts, as that was not a function of Sisulu and her ministry, but of the provinces.

Political analyst Richard Calland said special advisers were "lieutenants" to ministers. "They are appointed only where they are politically trusted by the minister. They enjoy ... access that allows them to exert a considerable level of influence."

Moodley appears to have a wide brief, but has taken a special interest in the N2 Gateway Project, the government's most ambitious housing project to date. Sisulu has called it the "spearhead" of the government's revamped Comprehensive Housing Plan.

N2 Gateway is a R1,6-billion fast-track effort to house tens of thousands of Cape Peninsula squatters. Moodley is the project's -spokesperson.

Moodley joined the ministry in June last year, but has stayed on as chairperson of Webnet, an IT company he co-founded in 2000. His partners in Webnet include Granny Seape, another key player in the Motheo scandal.

In late 1996 and early 1997 when Moodley headed the Mpumalanga housing board, Seape, as head of affordable housing at Nedcor, helped put the Motheo deal together. Her sister, Thandi Ndlovu, headed the beneficiary company, Motheo Construction. Ndlovu was Mthembi-Mahanyele's friend from exile days.

Seape quit Nedcor before the scandal became public. Company records show that Moodley joined Seape as partner in a "facilitation and lobbying" company, Ahanang Agency, in May that year” before his resignation from the housing board was announced.

He insisted at the time that he did not resign because of the scandal, but to pursue a new career.

Moodley's teaming up with Seape came two months after he, on the housing board's behalf, had -counter-signed the contract awarding about R190-million state funds to -Seape's sister's company. Motheo Construction was to build 10 500 houses in rural Mpumalanga.

An auditor general report in September that year ripped into the deal, saying the housing board had not properly considered Motheo's application and had sanctioned funding millions of rands more than allowed. Moodley, although unnamed, was the implicit target of much criticism.

The Dreyer commission, appointed by then-Mpumalanga premier Mathews Phosa, later reported that Moodley had personally driven the deal at the housing board. It blamed him for a string of irregularities:

# Insufficient information was provided to the housing board executive and the board to make an informed assessment of the Motheo application. From evidence, it appeared board members were unaware they were approving such a large deal” or any deal at all;

# The board "approved" the deal without a quorum, meaning the contract was invalid;

# Deficiencies in the contract itself.

- M&G