South Africans march to 'liberate' cannabis

Some 200 people Saturday marched on South Africa's parliament house in Cape Town to call for the legalisation of cannabis and released ten balloons containing cannabis seeds to drive home their message.

Andre du Plessis, the main organiser, was upbeat about the demonstration, despite the poor showing -- he had earlier said about 600 people would participate in the event.

"We were washed out by the rain," he said. "But I am sure that in my lifetime, cannabis will be legalised in South Africa."

Du Plessis said the ten balloons released by the demonstrators "landed in parliament," which he interpreted as a prophetic sign.

The demonstrators carried banners such as "Legalise cannabis," "Cannabis can Save the Planet and "Legalise cannabis for Petrol, Food and Fuel."

The marchers said cannabis had a variety of uses including improved medicines and even low-cost housing.

"These houses can be built with bricks made out of the stalk of the hemp mixed with lime and sand. The houses will be thermal with great insulation," Du Plessis said.

"My research shows that we can deliver a 82 square metre (882 square foot) house for 15,000 rand (2,188 dollars, 1,830 euros) which is three times the size of a house which is being currently built using conventional methods," he said.

"But the most interesting information is that it can help in fighting cancer tumours ... and lead to remission in various parts of the body but most importantly in the brain," he added.

Du Plessis said there would be similar marches in other countries Saturday, organised under the umbrella of three organisations – Million Marijuana March, Cannabis Culture and Cures Not Wars. 

– AFP - GMAX

Zuma declares luxury KZN village

Deputy President Jacob Zuma has for the first time declared his luxury village at Nkandla in KwaZulu-Natal in this year's register of members' interests.

The embattled Zuma has come under fire for allegedly failing to declare his properties, interests and gifts received, including the R1,3-million 12-unit village, and parliament's ethics committee on Wednesday started probing the affair.

MPs are required to declare in the register gifts and benefits that exceed R350.

In the register under land and property, Zuma notes the property as "Land and Dwellings under a permission to occupy" at Nhlola area, Nxamalala Tribal Authority, Nkandla.

In a previous register under the land and property section, Zuma referred queries to the executive register of interests.

The charge sheet against Zuma's financial adviser Schabir Shaik claims that money for the Nkandla development was allegedly channelled from arms company Thales through accounts run by Shaik to another account held by prominent Durban businessman Vathasallum "Vivian" Reddy.

Among gifts received, Zuma notes in the register a "birthday party" sponsored by Erwin Ulbricht, but there is no mention of any gifts or donations from Shaik.

The charge sheet against Shaik states that he and his company allegedly gave gifts or donations or payments to Zuma to the order of R1,2-million.

These include car payments, school fees, clothing bills, travel and rent. The state alleges that Shaik took elaborate steps to hide the origin of most of the payments.

Parliament's ethics committee is investigating whether Zuma did indeed receive gifts and benefits which he did not note in the register.

Committee chairperson Luwellyn Landers refused to comment on Wednesday's meeting of the committee.

In another development, Democratic Alliance chief whip Douglas Gibson on Wednesday lodged a complaint about Zuma with the Public Protector Lawrence Mushwana.

Gibson has asked Mushwana to investigate whether Zuma had contravened the Executive Ethics code by allegedly failing to declare gifts and benefits received from Shaik.

- Daily News

Casas mais baratas e saudáveis

Casas feitas com uma fibra retirada da planta Cannabis sativa, a mesma da qual é extraída a “erva” fumada, podem resolver o problema habitacional na África do Sul, segundo o inventor sul-africano Andre du Plessis.

Na África do Sul, milhões de pessoas vivem em barracas ou casas degradadas, com péssimas condições de habitabilidade, e poderiam beneficiar desta solução, garante o inventor.

Segundo Du Plessis, as casas de cânhamo (como é chamada a planta) poderiam solucionar a crise da habitação na África do Sul por serem bem mais resistentes e baratas do que as construídas com materiais convencionais.

Du Pleiss conta já ter construído um protótipo com 50 centímetros de altura. «Mas, por enquanto, ainda não obtive os recursos para construir um modelo de tamanho normal», disse à BBC o inventor.

Desde que Du Plessis começou a estudar as vantagens das casas de cânhamo, muitas pessoas começaram a dizer, em tom de brincadeira, que caso uma destas casas pegue fogo haveria mais pessoas a correr na direcção às chamas do que a fugir delas. 

Mas Du Plessis disse em entrevista à BBC que se uma dessas casas pegasse fogo, o fumo que esta libertaria não teria o efeito provocado pela cannabis fumada. Por isso, disse o inventor em tom de brincadeira, também não haveria razões para alguém arrancar pedaços da casa para fumá-los. 

De acordo com o inventor, a fibra extraída da planta de Cannabis seria misturada com areia e limão. «É um material que parece cimento – cuja cor oscila entre o cinza e o castanho». E acrescenta ainda que os componentes da casa também não teriam cheiro de cannabis.

De acordo com du Plessis, o cimento feito de cânhamo é seis vezes mais resistente e barato do que o convencional.

Mas, segundo o investigador, o governo sul-africano ainda não mostrou interesse pela ideia. O inventor disse que mandou entre 30 e 40 cartas propondo o projecto, mas que foi rejeitado pelas autoridades sul-africanas. «É frustrante quando se propõe alguma coisa que só pode vir a ajudar a África do Sul. Não estou a fazer tudo isto para visar o meu lucro pessoal.» 

Du Plessis argumenta ainda que as novas construções gerariam diversos empregos, graças às plantações de cannabis e de limão e dos vários carregamentos de areia que seriam empregados. O custo aproximado, conta o investigador, seria de aproximadamente 15 mil rand (cerca de 1 600 euros) para cada casa de 82 metros quadrados.

- LabMED

Crise du logement

André du Plessis, jeune inventeur sud-africain de Cape Town , plaide pour l'utilisation du cannabis comme matériau de construction. Cela permettrait selon lui de répondre à la crise du logement en construisant des maisons plus solides et moins chères dans les bidonvilles. L'idée n'a pas séduit le gouvernement. Pour le moment. 

Il tente depuis des années de travailler en partenariat avec le Conseil pour la recherche en agriculture sud-africain qui possède l'autorisation de cultiver du cannabis. " Pour l'instant, ils ne m'ont fourni qu'1 kg de cannabis ", déplore-t-il dans les colonnes du journal The Star. Résultat : son prototype ne fait que 50 cm. Dans l'idéal, André propose de construire des maisons avec un ciment obtenu par un mélange de cannabis, de chaux et de sable. Celui-ci serait six fois plus solide et six fois moins cher qu'un ciment normal. 

Pour une habitation de 82 m2, il faudrait compter 3 tonnes de cannabis et un investissement de 15 000 rands (2 000 dollars US). Cette dernière serait beaucoup plus spacieuse et coûterait moins cher que les RDP Houses, ces maisons construites sous l'impulsion du Programme national de Reconstruction et de Développement. Un projet lancé en 1994 par le gouvernement pour faire face à la crise du logement et qui a privilégié la quantité au dépit de la qualité. A tel point que plusieurs blagues circulent dans les bidonvilles du Cap ou de Johannesburg, comme : " Les maisons RDP sont si petites que quand tu t'allonges pour dormir, tes pieds touchent la porte "… 

" Tout ce que j'essaie de faire, c'est de construire des maisons à un prix abordable pour ceux qui vivent dans les bidonvilles ", plaide André. 

En France, l'Isochanvre est obtenu par un procédé de minéralisation de la fibre du chanvre en ciment de longue durée. Lié avec la chaux naturelle ou le sable, il convient parfaitement aux dallages et aux murs. Le chanvre serait en outre un puissant régulateur thermique, conservant la chaleur en hiver et gardant les maisons fraîches l'été. 

André du Plessis affirme qu'utiliser le cannabis dans le bâtiment pourrait en partie résoudre la pauvreté en zone rurale : la culture de la marijuana entraînerait la création d'emplois. "Cela pourrait être considéré comme une option économique tournée vers le développement durable, spécialement dans les provinces de l'Eastern Cape et du Western Cape où cette culture est déjà utilisée comme une source de revenus. " En effet, l'Eastern Cape cultive du chanvre pour exploiter ses fibres et son huile.

- Le Figaro

Inventor propõe uso de planta da maconha em habitações

Casas feitas com uma fibra retirada da planta Cannabis sativa, a mesma da qual é extraída a maconha, podem resolver o problema habitacional na África do Sul, segundo o inventor sul-africano Andre du Plessis.

"Decidi me concentrar nos maiores problemas da África do Sul: terra e moradia", disse o inventor. 

Du Plessis conta que teve a idéia de pesquisar o uso da planta como material de construção na época em que estava desempregado.

Na África do Sul, milhões de pessoas vivem em favelas, com péssimas condições de moradia, e poderiam se beneficiar da solução.

Barato

Segundo du Plessis, casas de cânhamo (como é chamada a planta) poderiam solucionar a crise da habitação na África do Sul por serem bem mais resistentes e baratas do que as construídas com materiais convencionais.

Du Pleiss conta já ter construído um protótipo com 50 centímetros de altura. "Por enquanto, ainda não obtive os recursos para construir um modelo de tamanho normal", diz o inventor.

Desde que Du Plessis começou a alardear as vantagens das casas de cânhamo, muitas pessoas começaram a dizer, em tom de brincadeira, que se uma de suas moradias pegasse fogo haveria mais pessoas correndo em direção às chamas do que fugindo delas. 

Mas du Plessis dissem em entrevista à BBC que se uma dessas casas pegasse fogo, a fumaça que ela liberaria não teria o efeito provocado pela maconha. Por isso, não haveria também porquê alguém arrancar pedaços da casa para fumá-los. 

De acordo com o inventor, a fibra extraída da planta de Cannabis seria misturada com areia e com limão. 

"É um material que parece cimento – cuja cor oscila entre o cinza e o marrom." Ele acresenta ainda que os componentes da casa também não teriam cheiro de maconha.

Frustração

De acordo com du Plessis, o cimento feito de cânhamo é seis vezes mais resistente e barato do que o convencional.

Mas ele conta que o governo sul-africano não se interessou pela idéia. O inventor disse que mandou entre 30 e 40 cartas propondo o projeto, mas autoridades sul-africanas o rejeitaram.

"É frustrante quando você propõe alguma coisa que só pode vir a ajudar a África do Sul. Não estou fazendo isso visando a um lucro pessoal." 

Du Plessis argumenta ainda que as novas construções gerariam diversos empregos, graças às plantações de Cannabis e de limão e dos vários carregamentos de areia que seriam empregados.

O custo aproximado, conta ele, seria de aproximadamente 15 mil rand (cerca de R$ 6 mil) para cada moradia de 82 m2. 

- BBC Brazil

Range ton chanvre !

Maisons en chanvre. Depuis le début du mois de mai, un jeune inventeur de Cape Town met l’Afrique du Sud en pétard. André du Plessis, jeune inventeur sud-africain, plaide pour l’utilisation du cannabis comme matériau de construction. Cela permettrait selon lui de répondre à la crise du logement en construisant des maisons plus solides et moins chères dans les bidonvilles. L’idée n’a pas séduit le gouvernement. Pour le moment.

Depuis le début du mois de mai, un jeune inventeur de Cape Town met l’Afrique du Sud en pétard. Il a lancé une pétition afin de récolter le soutien de la population pour son projet : construire des maisons en cannabis. Pour cela, André du Plessis se dépense sans compter. Il explique son business plan à qui veut bien l’entendre. Il a organisé une manifestation à Cape Town le 3 mai dernier et fait parler de lui dans les médias locaux. Il se fend régulièrement de courriers à divers ministères : Justice, Agriculture, Santé, Commerce et Industrie.

Il tente depuis des années de travailler en partenariat avec le Conseil pour la recherche en agriculture sud-africain qui possède l’autorisation de cultiver du cannabis. " Pour l’instant, ils ne m’ont fourni qu’1 kg de cannabis ", déplore-t-il dans les colonnes du journal The Star. Résultat : son prototype ne fait que 50 cm. Dans l’idéal, André propose de construire des maisons avec un ciment obtenu par un mélange de cannabis, de chaux et de sable. Celui-ci serait six fois plus solide et six fois moins cher qu’un ciment normal.

3 tonnes de cannabis

Pour une habitation de 82 m2, il faudrait compter 3 tonnes de cannabis et un investissement de 15 000 rands (2 000 dollars US). Cette dernière serait beaucoup plus spacieuse et coûterait moins cher que les RDP Houses, ces maisons construites sous l’impulsion du Programme national de Reconstruction et de Développement. Un projet lancé en 1994 par le gouvernement pour faire face à la crise du logement et qui a privilégié la quantité au dépit de la qualité. A tel point que plusieurs blagues circulent dans les bidonvilles du Cap ou de Johannesburg, comme : " Les maisons RDP sont si petites que quand tu t’allonges pour dormir, tes pieds touchent la porte "...

" Tout ce que j’essaie de faire, c’est de construire des maisons à un prix abordable pour ceux qui vivent dans les bidonvilles ", plaide André. Et malgré le fait qu’en 1999, plus de 2 millions de familles, soit quelque 12 millions de personnes, avaient encore besoin d’un toit décent pour vivre, le gouvernement sud-africain ne semble pas vraiment intéressé par son idée. Qui n’est pourtant pas si farfelue.

Ma maison en Isochanvre

Aux Etats-Unis et en Europe, l’utilisation du chanvre dans la construction se développe depuis quelques années. Ainsi, en France, l’Isochanvre est obtenu par un procédé de minéralisation de la fibre du chanvre en ciment de longue durée. Lié avec la chaux naturelle ou le sable, il convient parfaitement aux dallages et aux murs.

Selon le site suisse Chanvre-info, " ce produit apporte une économie d’énergie, un confort acoustique et une construction saine qui " respire ". Il est ininflammable, naturellement fongicide et n’est pas comestible pour les rongeurs et les insectes. Il vieillit bien tout en gardant ses précieuses propriétés. Ce matériau à demi végétal et à demi minéral associe les avantages du bois et du ciment sans aucun de leurs inconvénients respectifs. " Le chanvre serait en outre un puissant régulateur thermique, conservant la chaleur en hiver et gardant les maisons fraîches l’été.

Créer des emplois

Dans sa pétition, André du Plessis affirme qu’utiliser le cannabis dans le bâtiment pourrait en partie résoudre la pauvreté en zone rurale : la culture de la marijuana entraînerait la création d’emplois. " Cela pourrait être considéré comme une option économique tournée vers le développement durable, spécialement dans les provinces de l’Eastern Cape et du Western Cape où cette culture est déjà utilisée comme une source de revenus. " En effet, l’Eastern Cape cultive du chanvre pour exploiter ses fibres et son huile.

André appelle donc les autorités sud-africaines à participer à un forum pour développer une politique " plus en adéquation avec les orientations internationales en matière de cannabis ". Afin que son projet ne parte pas en fumée.

- afrik

'High-rise' housing for South Africa

Houses made from cannabis are far stronger and cheaper than conventional buildings, says South African innovator Andre du Plessis.

He sees this as the solution to the housing problem in South Africa, where millions of people live in shanty towns.

Since he started advocating the "dope houses", some South Africans have been joking that if one caught fire, people would run towards the burning building, rather than away.

But Mr du Plessis told the BBC Network Africa programme that if one of the houses did catch fire, it would not give off any "class C or D noxious fumes".

So he says people would have no reason to steal lumps out of the houses to smoke.

'Frustrating'

The fibre from the cannabis plant, which used to be used to make ropes, would be mixed with lime and sand.

"It looks like cement - a brownish, greyish hue," he said, adding that it would not smell of cannabis.

Although Mr du Plessis says the cannabis cement is six times stronger and six times cheaper than normal cement, the South African Government is not interested in his idea.

He says he has 30 or 40 letters from different government departments saying "Thanks, but no thanks".

"It's quite frustrating when you're suggesting something that can only aid South Africa. I'm not doing this for any personal gain."

Dope dome

He also argues that building houses from cannabis cement would create lots of jobs for South Africans growing the marijuana.

Three tons of cannabis mixed with lime and sand would be needed for each house.

Mr du Plessis says they would cost about 15,000 rand ($2,000) for an 82 square metre dwelling.

And where did he get the idea?

"I was unemployed and I was busy looking at the greater problems of South Africa, in particular land and housing," he says.

He has built a model dome about 50cm high.

"As yet, I haven't managed to source enough cannabis to build a full-scale prototype," he said.

- BBC

My dagga plant is on offer to help build homes for the poor

Any thoughts I might have had of uprooting my Hermanus dagga plant were dispelled on Monday on reading about a Cape Town man's plans to build houses out of dagga for the poor.

Andre du Plessis says he needs only three tons of dagga (or cannabis, if you're botanically minded) plus sand and lime to put up a R15 000 home.

Three tons is quite a lot, and worth a bit more, I should imagine, than R15 000 on your local street corner. In fact you could probably sell the three tons to people who have other uses for it, and build a mansion in Bishopscourt on the proceeds. But that would be illegal, and this column is determined to stay on the right side of the law.

The other snag attached to a cannabis construction is that the homeowner, in a fit of depression, might resort to lighting up his own house. Rather than smoking like a chimney pot, he could end up smoking the chimney pot, as well as the walls and the floors. His stoneless house could leave him stoned instead.

Nevertheless I am all in favour of helping the homeless, and am nurturing the dagga plant until clarity is reached in this matter. When the time comes I am prepared to donate it to the local building industry.

As I wrote previously, the plant sprang up of its own accord in the back garden. I said I was waiting to see if it turned out to be hemp, which is being farmed in the Eastern Cape for its fibre and oil and grows vertically, or dagga, a bushy plant that gives you an initially good feeling before taking you where you don't necessarily want to go (at least, so they tell me).

But an e-mail correspondent, Miss L Mouton, has put me straight. She says that marijuana and hemp are one and the same plant. "For the promotion of hemp the heads are picked to produce more foliage, and vice versa for producing marijuana for recreational drug use." Moreover, it is "the female heads that are commonly used for smoking, eating and brewing".

I should have guessed. But after close examination, I have still been unable to determine the sex of my plant.

If it's female it may have to go. Even if, as Miss Mouton says, quoting the Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants, it's an analgesic helpful to cancer and Aids patients, reduces muscle spasms in multiple sclerosis and cerebral palsy, eases eye pressure in those suffering from glaucoma, relieves asthma, arthritis and rheumatism, and acts as a laxative for constipation.

"Do the police know about this?" a very law-abiding neighbour, Mike, asked, when shown the plant.

"I told them about it in a column in the Cape Times on January 29," I replied. I would never hide from them my own small contribution towards solving the country's housing crisis.

- PS John Scott

Dagga the solution to SA's housing problem?

The Western Cape public protector has accepted a petition and a business plan from a member of the public who wants to build houses in rural areas using cannabis mixed with lime and sand.

The Western Cape public protector accepted a petition and a business plan on Friday from a member of the public who wants to build houses using cannabis.

Advocate Gary Pienaar, provincial public protector, is also to try to resolve an impasse between Capetonian Andre du Plessis and the national government.

“In this case we will try and facilitate discussions and follow up other elements of the complaint, particularly with the Department of Arts and Culture,” Pienaar said.

Pienaar said this department apparently did not respond adequately to Andre du Plessis’s entry into an innovative design competition, where he presented the plan to build houses using cannabis. The department apparently did not read the submission and declined the entry as having no market value.

“It seems as if there is no meeting of minds, with many aspects of the issue falling between two stools,” said Pienaar about the perceived lack of communication between Du Plessis and the various government departments petitioned, including justice, agriculture, health, correctional services and trade and industry.

Presenting his two seemingly well research documents, Du Plessis said at the handover that cannabis could form an integral part of the solution to rural poverty.

“It could be a sustainable agricultural development especially in the Eastern Cape and Western Cape, where it is already being used as a source of income,” he said. The dagga industry was worth several billion rands, he said.

Du Plessis said South Africa had created this evil—of banning dagga—when it added the plant to the Geneva Heroin Act in the 1940s, and should now undo what had been done.

“Interestingly, the world anti-doping agencies (WADA) and the International Cricket Council treat cannabis as a recreational drug… and the WADA treaty will now supercede the Geneva Act.”

Each of his proposed homes would need three tons of cannabis mixed with lime and sand, and would cost about R15 000 for an 82-square-metre dwelling, much larger than the size of the current RDP houses.

Du Plessis was also co-ordinating a march through the city centre on Saturday morning, to coincide with what he says will be worldwide calls for a more liberal approach to the plant.

The petition describes cannabis—a plant genus that includes what South Africans know as dagga—as “a sustainable agricultural option for economic empowerment” and calls for government departments to participate in a forum to develop policy “more in keeping with international trends”.

Du Plessis said that cannabis mixed with lime was currently used for home construction and insulation in France and Germany, and that it had a long history as a building material.

The 1500-year-old Hagia Sofia basilica in Turkey was “the world’s longest-standing dagga building”, he said. - Sapa

Making homes with dagga mooted

CAPE TOWN -- A South African who believes homes made of cannabis could be the answer to the country's housing problem plans to hand over a petition to the office of the Public Protector today. 

The petition describes cannabis -- a plant genus that includes what South Africans know as dagga -- as "a sustainable agricultural option for economic empowerment" and calls for government departments to participate in a forum to develop policy "more in keeping with international trends". 

André du Plessis said that cannabis mixed with lime was currently used for home construction and insulation in France and Germany, and that it had a long history as a building material. 

"I'm trying to build some affordable housing for those people who live in shanty towns. That's my angle on it." 

He said cannabis had medical uses, and that, for Africa, it was the cheapest way to get full-blown HIV-positive patients to eat again. 

"Cannabis is Africa's best choice for an affordable Aids drug, something that can help control pain and alleviate the illness." 

The petition has been signed by people ranging from politicians and surgeons to "folk from the street". There were also one or two dagga growers. "They have put their names down, but not a contact address."

- Sapa 

Cannabis could solve SA's housing problems

The Western Cape public protector accepted a petition and a business plan on Friday from a member of the public who wants to build houses using cannabis.

Advocate Gary Pienaar, provincial public protector, is also to try to resolve an impasse between Capetonian Andre du Plessis and the national government.

"In this case we will try and facilitate discussions and follow up other elements of the complaint, particularly with the Department of Arts and Culture," Pienaar said.

'It could be a sustainable agricultural development ' 

Pienaar said this department apparently did not respond adequately to Andre du Plessis's entry into an innovative design competition, where he presented the plan to build houses using cannabis. The department apparently did not read the submission and declined the entry as having no market value.

"It seems as if there is no meeting of minds, with many aspects of the issue falling between two stools," said Pienaar about the perceived lack of communication between Du Plessis and the various government departments petitioned, including justice, agriculture, health, correctional services and trade and industry.

Presenting his two seemingly well-researched documents, Du Plessis said at the handover that cannabis could form an integral part of the solution to rural poverty.

"It could be a sustainable agricultural development especially in the Eastern Cape and Western Cape, where it is already being used as a source of income," he said. The dagga industry was worth several billion rands, he said.

Du Plessis said South Africa had created this evil - of banning dagga - when it added the plant to the Geneva Heroin Act in the 1940s, and should now undo what had been done.

"Interestingly, the world anti-doping agencies (WADA) and the International Cricket Council treat cannabis as a recreational drug... and the WADA treaty will now supercede the Geneva Act."

Each of his proposed homes would need three tons of cannabis mixed with lime and sand, and would cost about R15 000 for an 82 square metre dwelling, much larger than the size of the current RDP houses.

Du Plessis was also co-ordinating a march through the city centre on Saturday morning, to coincide with what he says will be worldwide calls for a more liberal approach to the plant.

The petition describes cannabis - a plant genus that includes what South Africans know as dagga - as "a sustainable agricultural option for economic empowerment" and calls for government departments to participate in a forum to develop policy "more in keeping with international trends".

Du Plessis said that cannabis mixed with lime was currently used for home construction and insulation in France and Germany, and that it had a long history as a building material.

The 1500-year-old Hagia Sofia basilica in Turkey was "the world's longest-standing dagga building", he said. - Sapa 

'Build a better life for all with dagga'

A Capetonian believes that homes made of cannabis are an answer to South Africa's housing problem.

André du Plessis plans to hand over a petition to the office of the Public Protector on Friday. He is also co-ordinating a march through the city centre on Saturday morning.

The petition describes cannabis - a plant genus that includes what South Africans know as dagga - as "a sustainable agricultural option for economic empowerment" and calls for government departments to participate in a forum to develop policy "more in keeping with international trends".

Du Plessis said on Wednesday that that cannabis mixed with lime was currently used for home construction and insulation in France and Germany, and that it had a long history as a building material.

'I'm trying to build affordable housing' 

The 1 500-year-old Hagia Sofia basilica in Turkey was "the world's longest-standing dagga building", he said.

He has built a scale model dome of cannabis in a Newlands back garden, which has proved strong enough to take the weight of a 4x4 vehicle.

But for a full-scale prototype, he needs three tons of the green stuff. He had been trying for years to get the Agricultural Research Council, which has a licence to grow cannabis, to work with him.

"They still haven't delivered one kilogram that I can use to test with," he said.

"All I'm trying to do is build some affordable housing for those people who live in shantytowns. That's my angle on it."

Du Plessis also said cannabis was the cheapest way to get patients with full-blown Aids to eat again.

He said the petition had been signed by people ranging from politicians and surgeons to "folk from the street".

There were also one or two dagga growers on the list.

"They have put their names down, but they haven't put a contact address," he said. 

- Sapa

US land activist faces deportation

JOHANNESBURG -- Ann Eveleth, the US citizen arrested following land protests last week, was still in custody yesterday awaiting deportation, said Intelligence Minister Lindiwe Sisulu.

She said at a media briefing on the sidelines of the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) here that Eveleth's grace period to apply for the government to deal with her immigration status would have expired late yesterday.

Eveleth, who is a spokeswoman for the National Land Committee, was arrested on Thursday while visiting a fellow land activist at the Kempton Park police station.

Sisulu said Eveleth's residence permit had expired in 2001.

If she applied within the three-day grace period to have her status reviewed, the Minister of Home Affairs would consider the request, Sisulu said.

* The Department of Home Affairs has undertaken not to deport Eveleth until her case was argued before the Pretoria High Court tomorrow her lawyer said.

Chris Watters told Sapa yesterday that acting director-general Ivan Lambinon had given him a written undertaking to this effect.

Documents aimed at securing Eveleth's release from jail were served on the Home Affairs and Safety and Security departments yesterday.

The application also aimed to prevent her deportation from South Africa until the issue of her status is resolved.

The Landless People's Movement (LPM) meanwhile has demanded Eveleth's release and threatened unspecified action if she remained in custody.

"If Ann Eveleth is not released immediately, the national assembly of the LPM will take a decision on what action to undertake. We shall not be intimidated and we shall not be silenced," the LPM said in a statement.

"The LPM hereby calls upon the responsible authorities, including the Minister of Home Affairs Mangosuthu Buthelezi, to immediately release our friend and comrade Ann Eveleth from detention."

Eveleth, a US national, has lived in the country for several years.

Eveleth was reportedly in the process of applying for an extension to her temporary residence permit when she was arrested.

In its statement, the LPM said its interim national council met in Soweto on Sunday to discuss "the harassment meted against the LPM and its sympathisers".

The group said Eveleth's arrest was "nothing but the continuation and intensification of the harassment of the LPM by the state" which was designed to "intimidate" and "disrupt" its protests during the World Summit.

"The LPM will not be deterred, all activities will go on as planned." -- Sapa

Statement on Western Cape Housing Backlog

IN AN EFFORT TO ELIMINATE WESTERN CAPE HOUSING BACKLOG PROVINCIAL CABINET APPOINTS TECHNICAL TASK TEAM

The Western Cape Cabinet today devoted quality time to a discussion on the housing crisis in the Western Cape. Cabinet reiterated its deep concern that the housing backlog in our province will not be eliminated without visionary leadership and an extra-ordinary effort from all possible role-players. As a new provincial government, we believe we have already moved significantly to contribute to a solution by increasing our housing budget by about R130 million per year for the next 3 years - bringing our total investment for this period to R1,2 billion.

The problem will not be solved overnight or even within 3 years. But we cannot wait for 20 years to house our people. We, therefore, welcome the change of heart by the DA-run Unicity who now appears to be sharing our concern about the housing backlog. We believe we should co-operate with national and all local governments, the private sector, NGOs and communities in order to tackle the housing challenge and to shorten the waiting period. If we integrate our plans, pool our resources and co-operate generally, then we will give hope to the homeless.

In doing so, Cabinet supports the view of the Premier, Mr Peter Marais, that we are not interested in following the old apartheid planning models of dormitory black townships. In this regard, the media portrayal of a "Noweto" is unfortunate. We want a comprehensive approach to the establishment of racially integrated, economically viable and socially stable communities in the Metro and non-Metro areas. This will be a new model for building a prosperous and united nation.

We need as a matter of urgency to confirm the magnitude of the challenge: the exact number of the homeless, the distribution between rural and urban and between economic and sub-economic.

To this end, Cabinet has appointed a Technical Task Team under the Director-General, Dr G Lawrence, to interact with the Unicity and other councils to compile a status report, within 30 days, to determine the need, assess which plans exist for housing, and what the total available resources are at our disposal.

This will be the basis for further action by the Western Cape Government in partnership with all other role-players.

Issued by: Office of the Premier, Western Cape, 22 May 2002