Human Settlements Review - Parliamentary Monitoring Group

Human Settlements Review, Volume 1, Number 1, 2010
Figure 10: The current situation in respect of housing in the Thaba Nchu area.
However, these houses all display similar
problems, which include one or more of the
following:
• A lack of foundations, with the result
that houses tend to crack, especially
in areas where clay is prominent.
• The floor level on the inside of the
house is often much lower than the
ground level on the outside resulting
in rain water that streams in.
• The bottom plinth of the buildings
receives no attention, leading to
surface water eroding the walls.
• Openings do not have proper lintels if
indeed they have any.
• The absence of window sills and
gutters leads to a great deal of water
damage under windows.
• The corners are problematic with poor
bonding.
• The inadequate roof structures and
anchorage lead to extensive water
damage and eventually structural
problems.
• The use of parapet walls constructed
in earth results in water penetration,
cracks and loss of structural strength.
Figure 11: Main problems with erosion caused by water penetration
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