From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, this is the Real Economy Report.
A concerted strategy by the local banking sector and government to increase the financing of structures built using alternative building technologies in South Africa is driving the increased application of these techniques. Natalie Greve visited a housing innovation hub, in Soshanguve, to find out more.

Natalie Greve:
The Eric Molobi Housing Innovation Hub was developed through a private-public partnership between parastatal the National Home Builders Registration Council, or NHBRC, and the banking sector, and provides a space in which private companies can permanently showcase alternative building technologies. The hub also serves to determine the durability of these innovations in the South African climate, as NHBRC engineer Paimaan Byron explains.

NHBRC engineer Paimaan Byron

Natalie Greve:
In addition to the 17 low-cost alternative-technology houses built at the hub, it also hosts an on-site laboratory at which various alternative housing materials are tested and research into alternative technologies is conducted. The laboratory reviews rational designs of innovations that do not comply with deemed-to-satisfy rules as stipulated by South African building legislation.

Paimaan Byron

Shannon de Ryhove:
Other news making headlines this week: the World Bank warns of more risks as it cuts 2012 SA growth outlook to 2.5%; government and private sector should join hands on responsible tourism; and a food index reveals the world’s most food secure and insecure states.

The World Bank has lowered its gross domestic product growth outlook for South Africa from 3.1% in November to 2.5% and has warned that the performance of Africa’s largest economy could be weaker still if the eurozone crisis deepens further.

World Bank lead economist for South Africa Sandeep Mahajan

Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk says government and the private sector should work together on a framework to promote responsible tourism in South Africa.

Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk

The US, Denmark, France and the Netherlands are the most food-secure countries in the world, according to research institute the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Global Food Security Index.

EIU Regional Director: Middle East & Africa Pat Thaker

That’s Creamer Media’s Real Economy Report. Join us again next week for more news and insight into South Africa’s real economy.

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