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21

Case Study: Venda

A case in point is Gombani Village in Venda, situated

in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. Set in the

mountains close to the Zimbabwe border, the village is

so remote that neighbouring villages are barely aware

of its existence.

Traditionally, houses in the community were made

from mud but a decision was taken to use more modern

materials to extend the life of buildings in what can only

be classified as a harsh environment. The idea of using

a Hydraform blockmaking machine appealed because for

the most part the community would still be using its own

soil to build its houses – but the materials would have a

far longer lifespan.

Furthermore, limiting the materials needed to be

acquired from outside was a sensible approach to take

for a village as remote as Gombani. Another benefit of

opting for the Hydraform Building System is that previously

unskilled men and woman could be trained to make blocks

and construct their own houses as well as other buildings

required by the community.

Building in a

remote area

A constant challenge when it comes to assisting

communities in Africa is remoteness – some

villages are simply a long way off the beaten track.

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