Lost in Compliance: Speculative Futures of Self-Build

Abstract

South Africa has a strong tradition for self-build and material innovation. Whether it be the millions of zinc shacks built by people during and post-apartheid to provide essential housing, mud housing in rural areas or it be the Peoples Housing Programme (PHP) that has provide state subsidy for home construction. Much in line with the vision of John Turner’s seminal book ‘Housing by People’, this tradition of self-build has undoubtedly shaped the urban and rural landscape in the country.

Self-build construction has transformed dramatically in the last decade. There has been significant state disinvestment in self build practices, coupled with a exceptionally stringent regulatory framework. For instance, the entire alternative building industry sector has been at the mercy of state legitimacy, numerous pilots and onerous compliance, rather than enabling core principles of self-build- participatory, incremental, adequate and appropriate. Instead of centering housing as an instrument for social cohesion and community participation, housing programme delivery has become a ‘bean counting’ exercise through endless housing waiting lists. These factors have contributed to normalizing a feeling that self-build is an ineffective tool for providing essential affordable and adequate housing. The reprioritization has also come reinforced large construction conglomerates and corporations over smaller localized craftsmen and businesses.