Tlholego Ecovillage:

A Sustainable Development Project in Rural South Africa

Housing

The euphoria surrounding the political changes, which swept through South Africa in the 1990’s, has gradually given way to the realities of the day.  Dramatic social and economic inequalities are still all to evident, particularly in the area of housing – and estimated 48% of South Africans reside in dwellings that are deemed inadequate (USAID, 1996).  South Africa’s marginalized urban majority live in uncomfortable corrugated metal shacks – sweating in summer and shivering in winter.  Further, during winter months, the families are exposed to high levels of indoor air pollution, which results from the combustion of fuels the family burns to try and stay warm.

South Africa has a very real housing crisis.  Although there are many housing initiatives underway, there still remains a backlog for new housing units to be constructed in the order of millions of units.  This problem also exists in many developing countries.

The National Government’s R16,000 low-cost housing subsidy (US$2,130 at $/R exchange rates of 7.5:1) for families with an income of less than R800 per month is producing only the basics of site and services in the majority of cases. At best, it may include only a simple roof on four poles.

Most low-cost housing systems achieve cost efficiency by using standard house design and standardized minimum cost materials. The efficiencies of scale (i.e., the production of large numbers of these standard design houses) are also used to minimize costs.

An estimated 50% of South Africans live in shelters constructed from scraps of material.

Governments and housing authorities generally accept these techniques as the best methods for producing low-cost housing en masse. Large building companies and building material supply companies also like this approach because it often equates with maximum profit through repetition.  

The houses produced however are usually very low in quality,particularly regarding thermal, environmental and aesthetic characteristics. The thermal problems created by these designs can lead to major life-time costs for heating and cooling, both for the user and for the environment. End users usually are not consulted in the design process or given alternatives, and they often experience low levels of satisfaction with the houses (often as a result of the houses being too small). Often additions at a later date are not planned and can be difficult.  

The usual approach, when developing a low-cost building system, is to choose conventional materials and techniques, which result in the largest floor area for a given amount of money. Components of a conventional building that are not considered necessary are eliminated.

The Tlholego Building System has resulted from a different approach.  We first determined what we consider the minimum size and quality requirement necessary for a family home in South Africa. Then we have looked for ways to construct this minimum house for the money available.

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Money spent on new housing accomplishes little when the housing fails to address pressing problems of food, economic, energy and personal security, and the design of housing is not influenced by individual, family and community values.

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