Tshwane introduces fireproof houses
Shack fires, which leave a disastrous trail and several deaths every years in South Africa were dealt a blow on Sunday when the Tshwane metro showcased a fireproof housing pilot initiative in Mamelodi, east of Pretoria.
“Going forward, I know we are going to see the benefits in the next cycle of winter. Little will be seen this season because construction will be happening. The lighthouse is tested and we are confident about its resilience,” Tshwane mayor Kgosientso Ramokgopa told African News Agency.
“Once we have shown the house to the communities, for those who are happy and qualify for the subsidy, we are going to be rolling out. We will do another typology, which is more of a cluster of these houses in one area with shared facilities like libraries, play areas, and the clusters are fully Wifi-connected.”
He said the safer houses would be built for Tshwane residents who had been approved to receive RDP houses.
Ramokgopa said, however, the housing innovation was not only for the economically disadvantaged communities.
“This is the ideal way of building houses. This is not housing for the poor. It is housing for the people but we are simply starting with the poor. This is convenient for everyone,” said Ramokgopa.
Named the “lighthouse” model, the project enables shacks to be converted into proper houses without creating the need for the shack-dweller to be displaced from their unit.
“The other important feature of this house is that we are able to build in situ. If you have a shack, we don’t have to remove your shack. With your shack there, we are able to start building, transfer you to the top level, demolish the shack and complete the house,” said Ramokgopa.
“We are obviously considering people with disabilities, they don’t have to go up. They will get the units on the ground floor. The elderly as well. For the majority of these houses, we are going up. That is the revolution we are introducing. I hope the community will accept it.”
The housing pilot project is being carried out in partnership with the national department of environmental affairs’ Working on Fire programme.
The housing concept also focuses on addressing flooding, has superior thermal and acoustic qualities, as well as rat, termite, and cockroach-proofing.
Mamelodi resident Moses Mosima said he had attended the project showcase hoping to secure a house for his family.
“I still stay at my parents’ home even though I have my own family. I am unemployed and have no money. I am hoping these projects will be rolled out quickly to benefit us all. I am excited about this project,” said the father of four.