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Establishing a presence in the development community was made possible by a close partnership with the NGO Khuphuka. Introductions were made to local groups, and within weeks of arriving the Australian team began discussions with housing role-players. Interests as diverse as Church, labour, youth, student and women's groups were canvassed in a bid to formulate policy.
On the practical side, a mud brick production yard was established at Khuphuka, and the training process commenced. Although the Khuphuka staff were skilled in conventional construction, a conversion course was needed to handle mud brick. During the training, discussion yielded valuable insights into local methods and trends. Economics, cultural influences, an African aesthetic - all of these became incorporated into the training approach.
Using Khuphuka's facilities, a mud brick manufacturing mixer was developed and built, as were moulds and other ancillary equipment. Because the plant was built in-house, an understanding of the operating circumstances gave the fabrication staff an opportunity to modify existing blueprints to suit local conditions.
Phase I was characterised by two objectives, capacity-building and construction. It was not only the informal structures which had a role to play: overtures were made to government, and institutions as well as business were approached.
By September 1997, the fundamentals were in place, and the construction of a demonstration structure at Khuphuka by the Australian team and the trainees marked the end of Phase I.
A large housing project at "Waterloo", a site 30 km north of Durban, became the focus of this, the implementation phase. Once used for sugar-cane farming, the land will eventually accommodate several thousand homes. A score of contractors offering varied house designs and construction methods vie with one another for this large market. A site having been secured, construction of a mud brick showhouse started in November 1997 and was completed just before Christmas. Residents and home buyers were exposed to the entire process, from brickmaking to finishing work. The record rainfall of mid-November came as a blessing rather than a curse, as prospective mud brick builders saw the half-built structure withstand storm after storm.
The construction process was documented and filmed. As the project becomes more visible, so the larger figures in South African housing are expressing interest. Local and national housing boards have made enquiries, and negotiations are under way. Government is committed to labour-intensive development and to self-build. Both of these concepts can accommodate earthbuilding.
Following the success of the showhouse, a second brickyard has been established, and the waiting list for mud brick houses grows by the day. With this boom underway, more attention is being paid to training owner-builders and contractors to maintain quality.
Multi-function testing kits, construction manuals and training curricula are being provided as part of a locally-based support strategy.
By the end of Phase II, all relevant resources will be in local hands, and the transfer of mud brick technology will be deemed complete.
The project ends in September 1998.
durbanet
