Premier Mabuza supports ash technology for construction of houses
16 October 2012
Mpumalanga Premier David Mabuza is enthusiastic about the new ash technology utilised by Sasol in building houses saying if accurate, the provincial government could consider utilising it in building low cost houses.
Premier Mabuza was speaking yesterday [Monday, 15 October 2012] in Secunda at a signing ceremony of the memorandum of understanding with Sasol for a multi-million Rand investment for Govan Mbeki and Dipaliseng municipalities.
Prior to the signing ceremony, the Premier visited Thistle Grove Combined School in Kinross to see some additional classes built by Sasol utilising the ash technology and was satisfied with the concept.
Thistle Combined School has 39 classrooms of which eight had been built by Sasol with synfuels.
The Premier commended Sasol for innovation saying if the technology was scientifically accepted, it could be piloted by the provincial government and possibly be used throughout the country.
“I am impressed by this innovation; it is the best concept which could benefit the whole country. We are fortunate enough in our province as most of the power stations are here; ash would come handy in building the houses.
“I am married to the idea of using ash technology in building houses, let us refine the concept and come up with a big programme on how we will roll it out throughout the province,” said the Premier.
Speaking at the same event, the Premier further commended Sasol for fixing sewer spillage problems in two weeks the problem which had been bothering the community and the municipality for a very long time.
Mabuza asked Sasol to utilise their engineers in finding a solution on what he labelled a “serious health hazard” to children and the community at large.
“It gives me a relief to acknowledge that the partnership is indeed benefiting the communities out there. The sewer was terrible; it was not an ideal place for human settlement to live in such an environment.
“Although the problem has been solved, we are still looking for a permanent solution. We must find a way of imparting skills to the municipalities in order for development to be acceptable, we should be on the cutting edge,” said the Premier.
The Premier said government should come in full force to settle the people in proper houses as they mostly resided in the shacks in both Govan Mbeki and Dipaliseng municipalities.
Issued by Zibonele Mncwango
Spokesperson: Mpumalanga Premier
Tel: (013) 766 – 2453
Mobile: 079 491 0163
E-mail: zmncwango@mpg.gov.za
