Human Settlements Review - Parliamentary Monitoring Group

- Kuruman: Bankhara Bodulong formal 231 houses
TOTAL
Human Settlements Review, Volume 1, Number 1, 2010
Mapoteng
As the areas were approximately the same in
respect of their characteristics, it was decided
that a systematic sample would be used,
rather than a stratified random sample, as
maps for some of the areas were not available.
Areas were randomly selected and then every
fourth house was interviewed. The fourth
phase [starting date June 2004] involved the
collection of data from the different sampling
areas in terms of the different households .
• Phase five [starting date August 2004]
comprised data-analysis and
interpretation.
• Phase six [starting date March
2006] entailed the completion of a
follow-up questionnaire in the study
area, involving a smaller sample
size, to assess whether attitudes
towards the use of earth construction
had improved as a result of the
interventions (play and workshop).
• The seventh phase [starting date
September 2006] was the reporting
phase, in which all qualitative and
quantitative findings were published
into a concept report.
• The eighth and final phase entailed
the dissemination of the findings
161 houses
1 528 houses
3 Earth as building technology
in South Africa
3.1 A background to earth building in
South Africa
The South African building tradition can be
divided into two main streams. The first relates
to the use of earth by the indigenous inhabitants
of the country. The second tradition is that of
the colonial settlers who brought earth-building
techniques from other parts of the world.
3.1.1 Indigenous earth-building
traditions
There are a great variety of indigenous building
traditions, since each of the different groups
had their own method. Similar techniques and
methods were used by both indigenous people
and settlers. The available resources usually
played a decisive role in this regard. As people
developed a more permanent lifestyle, the
walls were built of more solid material, such as
sods or stone. Changes in the plan form came
about as a result of several factors, including
new technologies and materials (e.g. the use
of corrugated iron as a roof material), as well
as urbanisation.
Figure 4: A Ndebele house on the left and a Sotho house on the right
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