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One of the biggest challenges facing the South African government is to meet an
ever-growing need for housing. In the Eastern Cape, Hydraform has been able to help
in this respect while also creating jobs and developing skills along the way.
Delivering on
housing promises
Government’s
O
ver the past several years, the Department of Rural
Development and Land Reform (DRDLR) has been
acquiring agricultural land with the intention of handing
it over to emerging farmers together with appropriate
skills development and funding.
In the Eastern Cape, not far from Grahamstown, the
DRDLR had identified 27 displaced families to be the
recipients of new homes. Hydraform was given the
opportunity to deliver a proof of concept package
involving Hydraform technology that would not only
deliver 27 quality homes but also skill these families and
community members for future opportunities, ensuring a
more sustainable upliftment for this community.
Sustainable upliftment
As part of the delivery, Hydraform provided training
on blockmaking and construction to 31 members
of the community as well as to individuals from the
department’s National Rural Youth Service Corps
(NARYSEC). Basic machine maintenance training was
also provided to ensure that the Hydraform machines
are kept in good repair.
However, since a home is more than four walls and
a roof, Hydraform has extended its offering beyond
just services and training, moving into construction
services. DRDLR has made funding available to provide
an off-the-grid solution to the community. This entails
drilling and equipping the site with a borehole, installing
rainwater harvesting tanks and implementing a waste
management system – the ongoing maintenance
of which creates jobs in the community. Each house
has also been equipped with solar power and a small
television set.
As part of the offer, two Hydraform machines will be
handed over to the NARYSEC team for future projects
to continue employing their newly acquired skills for
sustainable job creation and upliftment.
Case Study: Africa
South Africa - Eastern Cape