Access to low-income houses made easy by moladi

Access to low-income houses made easy by moladi in Africa

low-income houses in Africa 

Access to low-income houses in Africa made easy by Moladi

By Thandisizwe Mgudlwa on March 11, 2013 in General News

Moladi, a South African based company established in 1986, makes housing accessible to low-income people through innovative and eco-friendly technology.

Decent housing is one of the key factors in the fight against poverty and social exclusion. It is not just about putting a roof over someone’s head – development experts attest.

Academic research proves that access to a clean and stable home implicates an improvement in security, health and education.

The Moladi system consists of a reusable and recyclable plastic formwork mould, which is filled with stone-less concrete and a special chemical additive. This additive ensures that, once the mortar is set, the formwork can be removed – and reused up to 50 times.

According to founder Hennie Botes, the brickless walls can withstand all types of weather. The formwork is lightweight allowing easy transportation. Due to the simplicity in design and the repetitive application scheme, construction costs can be reduced significantly.

The Moladi model is not only cost-effective but fast too. Botes further commented that the wall structure of a house can be completed within one day. A further plus point, especially in remote areas, is that the construction does not require heavy machinery or electricity.

With the motto “Train the unemployed to build for the homeless”, Moladi combines construction with economic development. The company also offers training locally for the unemployed thereby creating jobs and empowering the community as a whole.

Due to the simplicity of the approach, construction techniques and skills can be transferred in a short time. In this way, the communities benefit from affordable shelter and skilled entrepreneurs (in the area of low-cost housing) at the same time.

Moladi’s success in over 20 countries shows that affordable housing is an important key in finding solutions to promoting security and alleviating poverty.



Affordable Housing Production System - moladi

For more information on Access to low-income houses made easy by moladi - visit www.moladi.net

Keywords - moladi, Access to low-income houses made easy, low-income housing, Africa, affordable housing, Hennie Botes, formwork, building system, construction techniques, entrepreneurs

SOURCE: http://moladi.blogspot.co.za/2013/03/access-to-low-income-houses-made-easy.html

Posted 12th March 2013 by Moladi Formwork

Labels: Access to low-income houses made easy affordable housing africa building system construction techniquesentrepreneurs formwork hennie botes Low-Income housing moladi

  

Buy Back South Africa, save and create jobs

 20 November 2013

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Rob Davies, minister of the Department of Trade and Industry, launching the Buy Back South Africa campaign in Sandton on Tuesday 20 November.
(Image: DTI)

MEDIA CONTACTS
• Sidwell Medupe, spokesperson
Department of Trade and Industry
+27 12 394 1650
+27 79 492 1774

Mary Alexander

South African consumers and procurement managers at large companies are being urged to fight back against cheap, subsidised imports and help create and save more jobs by buying locally produced manufactured goods, in a new campaign, Buy Back SA, launched by Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies on Tuesday 19 November.

The 2008 global crisis hit South African manufacturing hard, and cost the country round 300 000 jobs. In the last few years South Africa has suffered the double whammy of substantially reduced external demand for products and fierce competition from other manufacturing countries. Difficult economic conditions in the US and Europe – South Africa’s principal export markets – have been a severe knock for local manufacturers.

The Buy Back SA campaign, announced at the Industrial Development Corporation offices in Sandton, Johannesburg, has been funded by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Manufacturing Circle, Absa and Proudly South African. 

A key part of the venture is a video featuring veteran South African actor John Kani urging support of localisation and the manufacturing sector, which will be aired on national television.

Watch the Buy Back SA campaign advert:

The ad was paid for by both the government and private sector. “This is a clear sign of the close working relationship that is in the process of being built between government and industry, and one that we think can be strengthened and deepened in a number of ways,” Davies said.

Festive season spending

“We are launching the first phase of this campaign before the festive season because we want to impress upon consumers and stakeholders in the private and public sectors the importance of buying locally manufactured goods and products,” Davies said.

South African manufacturers, he said, made products of good quality, available at reasonable prices.

“We want to encourage people to buy these products because this has significance in terms of job creation, revenue generation and service delivery improvement.”

The South African government has developed a number of policy instruments to support localisation, the minister said. These include local sectors and products – including clothing and textiles, buses, rolling stock and power pylons – the DTI has designated for government procurement under the Preferential Public Procurement Finance Act.

“We have also reviewed and put in place a new policy framework for the National Industrial Participation Programme to oblige overseas companies that have benefitted from state contracts above $10-million to invest a percentage of the contract directly into the productive sectors of the economy, wherever possible in the sector in which they are involved,” Davies said.

Company procurement is key

The minister said buying local is not only for consumers.

“It is also crucially about companies – especially large retailers with large procurement budgets and supply chains – supporting local manufacturers – not only because this is in the national interest but because there are very often sound commercial reasons for doing so related to total cost of ownership: after-sales service, quick response, security of supply, niche product requirements, quality assurance and so forth.”

The Manufacturing Circle represents many big South African manufacturing concerns. About 80% of the country's manufacturers procure some 40% of their input locally. Coenraad Bezuidenhout, executive director of the body, said at the campaign launch that South Africans had stopped giving preference to local goods.

“For manufacturers, the last couple of years have been quite difficult,” he said.

After the Manufacturing Circle, Proudly South African and Absa bank contributed the initial funding, Buy Back SA will now need another R12-million to continue the campaign.

"I want to appeal to the private sector," Davies said. "We need to expand this campaign." He invited companies to register by emailing info@buybacksa.co.za.

International precedent

Davies said the Buy Back SA campaign, while a government initiative, was not inappropriate for a free market economy.

In the US, the Buy America campaign was an integral part of efforts to rebuild that country's economy after the 2008 crisis. A close partnership between the government, private sector and further education institutions, Buy America was also an effort to save and create jobs.

“The US economy has reportedly created 500 000 new high-quality jobs in the manufacturing sector since 2010, with 50 000 of these directly attributable to those efforts,” Davies said.

International and local competition

Many African countries are rich in commodities, but development is held back by an inability to turn those commodities into manufactured goods. The more resources countries take out of the ground and export, unprocessed, to foreign buyers, the more intrinsic capital is lost.

Manufacturing creates jobs and skills, and established manufacturing industries create a base of skills, capital and production infrastructure that can cushion country against the often irrational shocks inflicted by the global economy.

Other than the 2008 meltdown, the over-valuation and volatility of the rand has also undermined South Africa’s manufacturing competitiveness, as have higher electricity, transport and labour costs, and strike action.

Manufacturing has also suffered from local competition. Over the past two decades, the sector’s contribution to the South African economy has been gradually eroded by other industries, particularly the services sector. In 1994, manufacturing’s contribution to GDP at market prices was 20.9%. In 2012 it was 12.4%.

Read more: http://www.mediaclubsouthafrica.com/economy/3561-buy-back-south-africa-save-and-create-jobs#ixzz3r5N1IItY

SA Needs To Rebuild the Proudly South African Brand

Thandisizwe Mgudlwa

South Africa should strongly consider reviving the Proudly South African (PSA) campaign.

The PSA Campaign was born out of socio-economic necessity to create jobs, under the leadership of the former South African President, Nelson Mandela.

And through the National Economic Development and Labour Council (NEDLAC), the campaign was officially launched in 2001.

To give it the strength it needed , the PSA campaign was from the on set supported by national government, organised Business (BUSA), organised labour and organised Community.
In over a space of just over a year, by January 2003 the campaign had generated so much attention and had become a highly visible brand.

It was seen on the CDs released by the Soweto String Quartet, Judith Sephuma and Vusi Mahlasela.

Fundamentally, PSA is an endorsement brand that signifies a particular company, service or product has met a set of criteria relating to local content, fair labour practices and environmental responsibility.

The founder and now former CEO of PSA, Martin Feinstein had said at the time, the emphasis is on protecting and creating jobs.

``The more South African-made products we buy, the more we stimulate local production and this will help create the conditions for producers to need more workers.''

At it's inception in the late 1990s, PSA was just a twinkle in the eye of the trade union movement, which proposed at the 1998 presidential jobs summit that a ``buy South African campaign might help to stimulate demand, production and employment''.

In 2000, a Nedlac (National Economic Development and Labour Council) task team investigated the idea. The results of the task team's research assisted decisions on disputed issues and showed how the campaign could work.

Research was then conducted among consumers. The name of the campaign came directly from consumer respondents.

According to PSA, more than half said they'd support local products as they were proud of being South African.

Three quarters said they'd find it encouraging if, when buying a product, they knew it would create jobs.

The campaign board was set up to include leaders from the social partners to ensure everyone shared the same vision and to see the benefits of such a message.

Futhermore, the board then consisted of former SA Chamber of Business CEO, Kevin Wakeford, Cosatu president Willy Madisha, trade and industry director-general Alistair Ruiters and chairperson Tim Modise, a TV and radio personality.

The logo was unveiled in October 2001. By the end of the year a communications campaign had kicked off. Billboards began appearing countrywide, while a print campaign promised the logo would be ``appearing soon on SA's finest''.

A children's road show campaign, featuring Simba the lion was met with enthusiasm in schools across the country.

The next phase in the TV advertising campaign involved the now late Baby Jake, Ruda Landman, Steve Hofmeyr, Zola, Felicia Mabuza-Suttle and other sporting and TV personalities explaining the campaign and why they support it.

Furthermore, there are three reasons why manufacturers and marketers would take PSA seriously.

Firstly, there is a promising trend towards tender preference for PSA member companies. A task team was set up at Nedlac to investigate how this can be put into practice in public and private sectors.

The national and provincial departments of education became the first government departments to commit to tender preference.

Secondly, the buy-in of retailers such as Pick 'n Pay means FMCG products which have PSA status will be differentiated at the point of sale.

Thus products which actively leverage and promote their Proudly South Africanness will have a distinct advantage.

Remarkably, I&J was officially the first company with consumer products bearing the logo.

And, thirdly, the PSA campaign was to invest more than R80 million over the next three years (from 2003 onwards) in building the brand. This was accomplished.

PSA also attests, "When a consumer sees the symbol on a product they will feel good about making a personal contribution to building a better country."

The brand values of PSA pride, quality and integrity are not unique but this non-commercial brand can strike an emotional chord with every South African in a way that helps to promote local products.

In 2003 Feinstein had commented, ``We've spent the last eight years focusing on making a new country. Now it's time to focus on what our country makes.''

Needless to say, the PSA campaign has taken a dip. 

Not much is reported on its activities and events. Even the newspapers that posted its logo on the front pages, many in not all of them of them no longer have the PSA logo let around cover the successes or failers of the campaign.

For what ever reason or reasons, the campaign has simply failed to get much commentary and in many quarters it is as good as dead.

Nedlac, is supposed to be a forum where government meets with organized business, organized labor and organized community groupings on a national level to discuss and try to reach consensus on issues of social and economic policy. The aim being to put meat into the phrase "social dialogue".

This appears to what has gone wrong with the campaign. A forum like Nedlac could have also played a bigger role in the execution and implementation of the PSA campaigns programmes, projects and policies.

South African need to remember that the PSA  "buy local" campaign calls on the nation to buy local products, make use of local services, with the mission of stimulating the local economy and helping with job creation.

According Proudly SA, the campaign further promotes national pride, patriotism and social cohesion. This makes a lot of sense with the racism the country is still confronted with.

As Leslie Sedibe, Proudly South African CEO says: “Every single product purchased affects a South African family somewhere and by buying Proudly SA, consumers and business are making a personal contribution to nation- building” Buy local this festive season and create jobs.

Crucially, this campaign is one we need to take seriously in the face of growing unemployment and economic inequalities bedeviling South Africa today.

At whose pace does black economic empowerment participation take place? - BEEInfoSTRIP

At whose pace does black economic empowerment participation take place? Government and big Business commands the pace of black economic empowerment and  not the masses. ...so where does this process leave you? The ultimate aim of the BEEInfoSTRIP™ project is to link you to the BEE System and  thus create the "active citizen". You will become the much needed “active public”  component in the process of the BEE system via the BEEInfoSTRIP™ Tool link. With  this Tool, you will 1) be the reason for the transparency of BEE information  and business relationships to 2) Actively facilitate opportunity within the supply  chain through the daily reporting of BEE real-time information to all consumers and  employees. This stimulates business and jobs, 3) Promoting and ensuring the  integrity (whistle-blowers) of the BEE system through continual public observation of businesses as to their adherence to the best practice principles of BEE. Our Government is based on the "will" of the people, thus the BEEInfoSTRIP™ Tool is to be a Government implemented public service for the inclusion, interaction and  participation of all citizens in the BEE system. The Tool’s individual information  reports printed on receipts, invoices, et cetera will be monitored and checked  by the millions of created "active citizens" for accuracy. Fraudulent information will  be traced from the point of sale along the supply chain including BEE verification  agents; this real-time reporting tool would be read and easily understood by all. The BEEInfoSTRIP™ Public Monitor will report on what is already in process  with regard to verification of companies and compliance certification by government  affiliates. The compliance status of companies would become common public information,  ensuring a system that is monitored, audited, investigated and questioned by one or  many citizens on a daily basis for accuracy.

The BEEInfoSTRIP™ is a voice for public opinion, and a tool for business transparency. The BEEInfoSTRIP™ believes that the core of integrity and political respect for people  needs to be challenged. Many businesses boast impeccable values, the BEEInfoSTRIP™  provides the public with an instrument to measure business BEE values. A Fair, Honest, Transparent and Equitable approach is maintained by the BEEInfoSTRIP™. The BEEInfoSTRIP™ is a building block toward UNITING businesses. What is your opinion?

- send us an email.

For more information visit: www.beeinfostrip.co.za

Kagiso Trust: 30 Celebrating Years of Service

Kagiso [meaning Peace] Trust was established in May 1985 as a mechanism to channel funds, which would promote the struggle against apartheid as well as uplift and empower communities deprived by the system.

Its contributions to, and hands on involvement in a wide range of projects have allowed Kagiso Trust to make a real difference to the lives of many thousands of South Africans.

Kagiso Trust Investments (KTI), which was born out of Kagiso Trust in 1993, has set the organisation apart from many NGOs in that it serves as a means of generating sustainable income for the future.

The trustees believe that education is the key to the future growth and development of South Africa. To this end, it has developed a pioneering programme, named after one of the founding patrons, Dr Beyers Naudé, who played an active role in the growth of the Trust.

The outlook for the future is promising. As an organisation with a solid foundation and the ongoing dedication of the people who support it, Kagiso Trust looks forward to increased involvement from those who share the dream of making a difference to South Africans.

Our Business

The long history of Kagiso Trust (KT) is entrenched in building sustainable partnerships for poverty eradication. For over 20 years, KT has worked with South Africans to achieve a society which offers liberty, justice and freedom from poverty.

The core business of KT is empowering poor marginalized South Africans so as to affirm their place and participation in the larger social institution. KT pursues an organizational development strategy that seeks to maximize its unique strength of relating to ordinary people, particularly in rural communities, as well as its considerable experience in development facilitation to identify sustainable solutions towards poverty eradication.

Our Philosophy

Integrity
We shall at all times, endeavour to uphold our integrity both as individuals and as an organisation, as we realize that this principle is the value upon which all others are founded.

Accountability
We shall be accountable and take ownership of matters for which we are responsible. We shall practice self-evaluation, continually reviewing ourselves, our actions as well as attitudes, whilst carrying out our functions with a strong sense of commitment.

Passion for Development
We shall at all times ensure that we maintain our basic passion for working towards achieving our vision and mission.

A hands on, bottom up approach
We shall do whatever is necessary to achieve our mission; understanding that this may often require us having to get our ‘hands dirty’ in doing the necessary, practical tasks that may be required in any given instance.

Organisation Overview

Also Visit: http://kagiso.co.za/

Yvonne Chaka Chaka: The Princess of Africa

Yvonne Chaka Chaka

Dobsonville, Soweto, 1965:

A child is born to Puti and Sophie Machaka, the Machakas had three girls: Doreen, Refiloe, and Yvonne Ntombizodwa Moloko Machaka .Today Yvonne is known as the Princess of Africa, performing artist, entrepreneur, and humanitarian, “Yvonne Chaka Chaka”

The Humanitarian:

Considered a role model throughout the African continent, she has demonstrated compassion for others throughout her career. Yvonne has taught literacy, promoted the rights of women, and never stopped to work to protect children everywhere.

As UNICEF’s Goodwill Ambassador against malaria, and also Ambassador for Roll-Back Malaria (sponsored by the World Bank, United Nations, World Health Organization, and other institutions), Yvonne tirelessly campaigns for medications and bed nets that will help to end malaria — a preventable and curable disease that kills 3,000 people in Africa every day.

Inspired by these statistics she created her own charity, the Princess of Africa Foundation. Yvonne says, “We want to raise awareness and take initiative to eradicate this needless disease. People need to know more about malaria because it kills almost one million Africans a year, most of them children.”

Yvonne has also served as Ambassador for the University of South Africa (UNISA); City of Johannesburg Tourism, and Nelson Mandela’s 46664 Campaign. Yvonne embraces the belief that every citizen should play a part in building community, so when she was asked to become an honorary Colonel in the South Africa Air Force, she didn’t hesitate. Her duties include team-building and attaining excellence in communication.

In 2001 Yvonne was named one of the Top 100 Heroes of South Africa by the Star Newspaper. Despite a travel schedule that keeps her on the road much of the time, Yvonne continues to make time to motivate, inspire, and educate everyone she meets. And she says “I am always ready to learn from others.”

Her continual efforts to raise donor monies from various African governments, the Global Fund, the World Bank, and the Gates Foundation ensure that those who need help the most will get it. Of the many awards and accolades she’s earned, Yvonne says that being the recipient of the Rotary Paul Harris Fellowship Award, established in 1957, was a great honour. “This award of excellence is such a distinction. I realize that it is through the efforts of others, who walked this path before me, that I am able to follow in their footsteps to help others. It is a privilege to serve my communities and make the world a better place for all our children.

Her numerous accomplishments, and endurance in a demanding industry, can be attributed to an indomitable will and a childhood guided by the strength of her mother, Sophie Machaka. A domestic worker with only a Standard 6 education, Yvonne’s mother was a life-long teacher to all who knew her. She was Yvonne’s first mentor and gave her the gift of character. Yvonne says, “I know what it is like to sleep without food. I know what is like not to have. My mum taught me that when you die you will never take anything with you. So when I have, I share with others.”

Today, the voice of Yvonne Chaka Chaka has also become the voice for untold others who suffer injustice and disease. Her wisdom and insight, combined with common sense and good judgment, have become evident in the dignity, poise, and courage she radiates. It is said that the only way to have a friend is to be one, and the Princess of Africa lives this credo. She has embraced an array of people from every walk of life, and her friendships span the globe. The diversity, and quality, of Yvonne’s relationships are like her music — different notes blending together to create the perfect sound. This belief in the human family is at the core of her beliefs, “I would love for all people to be equal in the world and just to know that God loves us all.”


Those who are closest to Yvonne recognise that she exudes a wisdom that flows from the highest source. Yvonne is a dramatic example of the power of one. Passionate about changing her world, she works ceaselessly to build a better future for Africa. A non-drinker and non-smoker, Yvonne maintains strong spiritual connections.


Her philosophy is, “When we are born we come with nothing. And when we die, we die with nothing. God thank you for the life that you have given me.I love life, and I live it to the fullest.” “We are the instruments of Heaven. Our work is not design, but destiny.” African icon Yvonne Chaka Chaka is living her destiny, and those who understand her message are enriched by it.


Thank you for walking with me; it’s been A LONG WALK. I AM BECAUSE YOU ARE.  THIS IS MY MOTHERLAND ..................THANK YOU.

The Princess of Africa Foundation



The Princess of African Foundation was established in 2006 to complement the work of Yvonne Chaka Chaka as UNICEF and Rollback Malaria Goodwill ambassadors in Africa. It is a non-profit organization registered under Section 21 of the Companies Act with main objectives being to carry out community and social charity works.


The Foundation carries out its main objective by working in partnership and collaboration with other organizations and individuals. The focus of the Foundation’s work is to combat malaria which is reported to be killing 3000 children a day on the African continent.


The Foundation’s purpose is to heighten awareness:
•    On the dangers of malaria, preventative measures and treatment
•    By carrying out projects on information, education and communication about malaria in malaria prevalent areas
•    By carrying outs projects in high malaria prevalent areas with special focus on the most vulnerable – women and children


The Foundation has undertaken the following projects since its inception in 2006:
•    2008/9 – In partnership with the MTN Foundation and the Department of Health in Limpopo, launched the malaria residual spraying in villages located in the malaria prevalent areas in the north-eastern part of Limpopo Province


•    2009/10 – In partnership with the Department of Health in Limpopo and the African Women’s Development Fund  trained 103 women Community Health Workers in the malaria prevalent villages in the north-eastern part of the Limpopo Province


•    2009/10 – Created the Motherland Tour – A Journey of African Women documentary to highlight the plight of women and children suffering from various diseases and the lack of health facilities and various forms of infrastructure to access treatment


•    2010 – In partnership with the Wits Medical School and Radio Today ran an information and educational programme to the general public on the malaria disease, preventative measures and treatment

For more information visit: http://www.yvonnechakachaka.co.za/foundation/about.php