Hon Deputy Speaker, an ANC councillor in the Mangaung metro has devised an innovative low-cost housing project using tyres. Mr Thabo Olivier, who was once voted one of the best councillors a few years ago, has developed a plan to build low-cost houses with old used tyres. He is the founder of the Qala Tala initiative whose main aim is to do away with corrugated iron shack informal settlements. The Canaan project, a spin-off of the Qala Tala initiative, received its first donation of 400 old tyres and the first tyre house will be built in Olivier's backyard.
This programme will be rolled out to poor families and the houses will cost less than a current subsidised house. The house will be 100% green, with only sustainable and waste products being used as building material. It will have solar panels, a dry-compost toilet system and water tanks for reusable water. The community will be expected to build the houses themselves and the plans to build the houses will be available on DVD in 11 languages to help the facilitators of the project.
In addition to this roll-out of low-cost housing, there will be a programme for poor families to cultivate their own vegetables. This objective is to teach communities to cultivate their own vegetables, be employed and generate an income. The ANC believes that such innovative ideas and solutions to the housing backlog will go a long way towards ensuring that there is shelter for all. [Applause.]