INTRODUCTION
Since there is an enormous deficiency in housing in the Republic of South Africa. The government has built 2.6 million-plus houses after 1994 through the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) [3]. This is not sufficient as families without houses number approximately 2.3 million [3]. The RDP program only applies to people that earn less than a monthly income of R3500 [3]. People that earn above this level will not qualify for a subsidised house or an entry-level home loan [3].
The land policy could be part of the problem; the poor settle on uneconomical, outlying and inexpensive land that create a huge number of subsidised houses on the edge of cities separating the housing of the middle and upper class from the masses [6].
One of the solutions proposed is to employ the hundreds (could be thousands) of shipping containers lying dormant in storage (next to the N1 towards Canal Walk) [1]. South Africa has higher imports than exports which leads to more containers coming in than going out – the pile of boxes keep on growing [1].
Sustainable design
Sustainable development is defined in the national policy framework of South Africa as: “integration of social, economic and environmental factors into planning, implementation and decision-making to ensure that development serves the present and future generations” [4 & 8].
PROS
Affordability is key
The company Berman and Kalil argues that container houses could possibly be made 40 to 60% cheaper than building a RDP house [3]. Furthermore the container house can be completed in 3 weeks [3]. Therefore shipping containers are a sustainable alternative to RDP housing, as they are cheaper with shorter start to finish delivery.
Changing perceptions: banks and government
Container homes are as strong as houses of bricks but do not align with the criteria of the banks as container homes are mobile and excluded from the banking system [3]. The company Berman and Kalil is in discussion with the banks to allow for a new type of bond after evaluating the construction process of the company [3]. These discussions could change perceptions concerning containers.
Considering the environment
The Western Cape Human Settlement Strategy states that construction and building cause 50% of all carbon emissions in the world (Department of Local Government and Housing, 2007) [7]. Building the average home for a middle-income family consumes 5 – 10 tons of cement, with a ton of carbon is released for every ton of cement produced [6]. Carbon emission of containers are far less.
CONS
Difficult to change banks and government perceptions
It is hard to change the perceptions of the banks and the government [3]. According to a Cape Town-based company, Berman-Kalil Housing Concept, who have been meeting with government departments and various municipalities they are struggling to overcome the perceptions (mostly negative) to build a house out of a container [3].
Containers do not solve segregation
There is currently a huge struggle for housing in Cape Town, which is largely due to segregation across races and economic lines [1]. This segregation, in turn, was caused by wrong planning, weak economic conditions and inflation [1].
Containers not the only method for low-cost housing
Shipping containers are not the only low-cost housing alternatives as stated by Justin Haselau, which he compiled in 2013 (Honors student in Quantity Surveying and Construction Management University of the Free State) [5].
CONCLUSION
Many businesses have developed entry-level building houses, of which containers are one with lower costs, shorter time to construct and stronger than a house under the RDP scheme. Using containers as a basis for building houses will accelerate housing the homeless [2]. Damage to the environment will also reduce to a minimum [1]. To conclude the argument, shipping containers are a sustainable alternative to RDP housing in South Africa and provides low-cost housing to people that do not qualify for a RDP house or a loan.
References
[1] Banwari, A. R. (2017, August 18). shipping containers a solution to cape towns housing crisis. Retrieved from otl media: http://otlmedia.co.za/2017/08/shipping-containers-a-solution-to-cape-towns-housing-crisis/
[2] Claassens, C. (2018, April 18). container homes are taking over south africa heres why. Retrieved from the culture trip: https://theculturetrip.com/africa/south-africa/articles/container-homes-are-taking-over-south-africa-heres-why/
[3] Douglas, K. (2015, August 7). South African company making shipping containers feel like a real house. Retrieved from how we made it in africa: https://www.howwemadeitinafrica.com/south-african-company-making-shipping-containers-feel-like-a-real-house/50948/
[4] Ecolife dictionary. (2011). sustainable design. Retrieved from eco life: http://www.ecolife.com/define/sustainable-design.html
[5] Haselau, J. (2013). ALTERNATIVE CONSTRUCTION METHODS. In J. Haselau, ALTERNATIVE CONSTRUCTION METHODS FOR LOW-COST HOUSING IN SOUTH AFRICA (pp. 2,3,7). Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa: University of the Free, State. Retrieved September 29, 2019, from http://icoste.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/ASAQS-Paper-1-Haselau.pdf
[6] Hendler , D., & Thompson-Smeddle, L. (2010). WHAT IS SUSTAINABLE HOUSING? In S. INSTITUTE, SUSTAINABLE NEIGHBOURHOOD DESIGN MANUAL (pp. 7,8,10,15,18,20). Pretoria, Tswane, South Africa: SUSTAINABILITY INSTITUTE. Retrieved September 29, 2019, from http://www.cityenergy.org.za/uploads/resource_139.pdf
[7] Novacekon, L. (2016, June 22). 5 ideas to shape the future of housing in south africa future Cape Town. Retrieved from future Cape Town: http://futurecapetown.com/2016/06/5-ideas-to-shape-the-future-of-housing-in-south-africa-future-cape-town/
[8] Thompson-Smeddle, L., & Roux, J. (2010, April). THE STRUGGLE FOR INTEGRATED SUSTAINABLE SETTLEMENTS. In S. INSTITUTE, Sustainable Neighbourhood Design Manual (pp. 3,4). Pretoria, Tswane, South Africa: SUSTAINABILITY INSTITUTE. Retrieved September 29, 2019, from city energy: http://www.cityenergy.org.za/uploads/resource_139.pdf