Corobrik aids Department of Human Settlements in village project

The project aims to achieve two essential objectives; to create a leadership talent search for South Africa's next Madiba and to keep Nelson Mandela's legacy alive in the consciences of all South Africans.

Deputy president, Kgalema Motlanthe under the War against Poverty Program, declared the area. The Department of Human Settlements ultimately intends to build 500 low-income housing units in the area over the next few years to alleviate a serious shortage of housing in the area.

"Corobrik was invited by SAWIC to supply bricks for the houses and it donated a total of 21,780 CoroJem bricks to the project, used in the construction of four of the houses," explains Allin Dangers, Corobrik director of sales - Inland Region. Each house is constructed with single skin 150mm x 222mm x 73mm walls.

Meeting NBR requirements

Its Corojem Wall is a proven 'through-the-wall' clay face brick walling system ideal for low cost housing. The National Building Regulations allow the external masonry walls of a minimum of 140 mm - Corojem is Corobrik's response to the South African government's challenge to provide sound, durable, maintenance-free materials within the budget constraints of the government housing subsidy industry.

"The versatile Corojem brick, which is available in four different colours, is light to transport and has been successfully used for countless single storey houses in the inland areas," notes Dangers.

The Deputy Minister of Human Settlements, Zoe Kota-Fredericks, officially launched the project on 12 December 2012. During the handover of these houses, the Deputy Minister was very impressed with the houses that were built out of clay face bricks, noting that they looked beautiful and that due to the building material chosen, the houses of the beneficiaries would have less maintenance needs. The Deputy Minister thanked all the sponsors who participated in this worthy initiative.