South Africa: Alternative Construction Methods for Low Cost Housing
Introduction:
Sixteen years into its democratic existence, the South African government is still struggling to provide adequate low-cost housing as set out in the several housing policies since 1994. Some of the weaknesses of the housing policy is that there is not a clear link between the current focus in government on the contribution of housing to poverty alleviation, and the ability of the policy to deliver on these objectives. This resulted in housing backlogs and poor quality low cost houses. South Africa’s minister of human settlements, Mr. Tokyo reports that the government housing backlog stands at 2.1 million units, affected over eight million people.
Methodology:
A questionnaire survey strategy was used whereby a questionnaire was distributed to quantity surveying firms and the Eastern Cape Department of Roads and Public Works. The survey was designed mostly with open-ended questions and one closed-ended grouped into two sections.
Section A requested the biographic profile of respondents.
Section B tested familiarization of alternative construction methods and how the different construction methods could be applied to the development and delivery of low-cost housing.
Alternative Construction Methods:
The first low cost housing projects were generally a two room brick work structure with corrugated iron roof sheeting. Over the years the design of the house improved a lot. It now consist of a five room brickwork structure with either corrugated iron roof sheeting or clay roof tiles. Lights and electricity are supplied and a geyser for hot water is an option. The problem is that many people can’t afford the electricity-driven services of appliances and utilities. Alternative construction methods are necessary as a solution.
Low cost housing construction methods:
Question 1: Which construction methods are currently being used in Low cost housing?
60% respondents answered that the methods currently used in low-cost housing includes cement brick walls, with a metal roof and minor finishes inside and outside, it normally only has one door and little windows. 40% of the respondents said that Moladi Housing Technology were used for low-cost housing.
Question 2: How costly are these methods?
All respondents agreed that low-cost housing is normally not expensive, due to materials being used not being expensive. The cement bricks’ being much cheaper than the conventional clay bricks, with minor finishes inside, with no floor covering, ceiling etc. Cement bricks are not of a good quality like conventional clay bricks.
Question 3: Why are these construction methods particularly being used?
40% of the respondents answered that the current methods are familiar, whilst 60% of the answered that it is cost effective and takes a shorter time to deliver.
Question 4: What are the constraints in delivering low cost housing?
80% of the respondents answered that the constraint in the delivery of low-cost housing was due to poor workmanship and corruption, whilst 20% answered that it is due to the limited budget compared to the great demand.
Question 5: Do you know of alternative construction methods?
All the respondents knew about alternative construction methods with 20% referring to timber frames and lightweight steel structures, 10% only had theoretical knowledge and 60% knew precast concrete structures such as The Speed wall System.
Conclusion:
Conventional construction methods are currently being used in low-cost housing and consist of concrete walls, a steel roof, a door and few little windows. Construction cost is low as the materials used are not of the highest quality. Poor workmanship, corruption, tender fraud, lack of awareness, government policies and bad management are the reasons for the backlog in the delivery of low-cost housing.
Alternative construction methods such as Moladi, Speed wall and Hydra form interlocking bricks will be suitable for sustainable low-cost housing in terms of cost, time and quality but it is difficult to determine the ultimate construction method as each has positive and negative attributes.
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