Cannabis the answer

Is it really a surprise that the people of Happy Valley, not to mention those in other areas, are fed up with poor service delivery? Imagine being oppressed, fighting that oppression and winning the battle, only to be put on hold again by the very people you helped put into power. 

The results are places like Happy Valley, where people have been waiting for four years to move to new land. With the lack of problem-solving in the housing ministry, informal settlements have sprung up where inhabitants cannot erect permanent homes as they rightly expect to move.

Now that winter has come, the situation is infinitely worse.

I do not believe the civil service is to blame for not addressing this issue, as their inability to put mind to task is just a question of training. 

Make no mistake, South Africa's housing crisis needs to become a priority. When tyres are burning in front of riot police armed with tear gas, it should remind us of a time not too long ago - and the mistakes made.

Most surprising to me is the government's take on the situation. People like Andre du Plessis are presenting solutions that are tailor-made for South Africa's resources. What? A brick made of cannabis? 

And no, it's not smokeable but it is fireproof and waterproof. 

The International Narcotics Control Board has rated South Africa as one of the world's largest cannabis-producing countries. Cannabrick houses will cost a third of the price government is currently paying. Yet, the government hesitates. 

Du Plessis says with the resources of known crops, we can build an additional 10,000 houses per year. 

Why not?

Robert Peters

Oranjezicht 

- Cape Times

Hemp housing 'unduly delayed'

Cape Town - 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 hemp 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.

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".

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