week 28

Dear Reader

1.Ingrid-Public Housing expert. 2.Zama-Project manager. 3.Xolisani-LED Co-ordinater. 4.Akhona-Office admininstaror 6.Moegsien-Town Planner.  7.Nokukhanya-Development Officer 

Josette-CEO 

1. Helen-Project manager. 2. Micheal-Construction Manager. 3. Nkanyezi- Intern. 4. Willard-Researcher 

Its been a planning week in the DAG universe. This week we had Strategic Planning Workshops for financial year 2013/2014. It was a drag however we have to get it done because without planning there cannot be any implementation, so it is important to plan ahead so that there wont be any unforeseen problems. Just like doing a Building Plan. First You look at the problem, then analyse the given, what You have to work with. Then have a strategy on how the problem will be solved there after discuss the options then decide on the final design. I learned a lot through those sessions. in order to have a smooth ride, you must make sure you cover all the comers cross the t's and dot the i's.

another week at DAG

Dear Reader.

The past few week/s have been hectic. Organizing a Ceremonial event: Launching A Case Study and Show casing the work of Unblocking the Khayelitsha PHP.
Getting Plans submitted to council at Stocks & Stocks in Khayelitsha.

The one thing i would like to share with you; is a submission of a particular plan.

Last week i was prioritising a plan of an elderly woman who was on her death bed. She had been waiting for over 20 years for a house from govt. to no avail. Trough our unblocking project she was able to speed up the process. We moved her up  the list because of her dire condition. We managed to submit her plan, after a lot of red tape. When I was relaxed, thinking that it will only be a few weeks until she will be in her brand new house, our Administrator told me that she had passed away, just when her house plan was submitted.

The building inspector had previously said we can continue with with the construction even though we don't have a plan but the he went back on his word and there was futher delay. This remimnded me again that this is not just about buildings but peoples lives.
I feel so bad about it.

this is what has been happening both in the office and on site in Grabouw St Micheal's multigrade School.

We (as the 2nd years) designed a timber screen for the school. pity we where not there to see them experience the new addition to their school. i reckon our group did a splendid job. well-done to the 2nd year class of 2012.!!!

joe slovo park

netreg context

Netreg 

all in a days work...

Streetscape and one point perspective

LAD 

LAD-Local Authority Drawing

Dear Reader

This week was hectic, we-DAG-have designed and internal approval system, which allows us to analyse the plans which will be sent for approval.
With all the red tape we have to go through when submitting plans, it can be very fruitful when we have partnerships with important role players in the industry. We managed to lobby a few officials (legally) to assist in the pre-approval stage as we ha a large number of plans to submit.
We have managed to secure a mutual relation with the Building Inspector whom we are very grateful of, this relationship made me realise the importance of liaising and lobbying community partners, academics and non governmental  organisation for pro-poor policy. We lobby for changes in policy and practice for equitable urban land use and management.

This is what i have been doing this week.

PHP Housing

Dear Reader

Work done during this week

This week we will have a beneficiary meeting on the 15 of September where some of our beneficiaries will be there.
the purpose of the meeting is to update beneficiaries w.r.t construction and any housing issues. then we are also planning a Ceremonial Event where we have invited 20 of our 2173 beneficiaries along with provincial officers, MEC of housing and other stake holders. The purpose of the Ceremonial Event, which will be on the 29Th of October is to 1. Launch the Case Study
                                      2. Market DAG's Unblocking Project
                                      3. Profile leadership program (LED)
So there is a lot of logistics being sorted out in order to manage any unforeseen risks and abuse of the platform.
The reason why I am mentioning this, is because, lately we have seen unruly behaviour in meeting concerning Public Housing, so we are hoping to cover all bases by making sure that the work we produce is not mediocre, which will then lead to confrontations by the community and a lack of response from the facilitator which will lead to answers being forced out of institutions such as DAG,
in event such as the ones I have mentioned above.

I guess we cannot all be happy, but if we all do our bit the tolerance prevails and unruly behaviour countered.
Hope there wont be any unruly behavior in the above mentioned events.

The threshold | Pro-Poor Policy

Dear Reader

Another week has passed, as well as another month.

This past week we began, after a long battle with the 'Red Tape', to process 118 out of 2173 house plans.
The hold back has been the normal 'pillar-to-post' type of operation from Provincial Government, Local Municipality, Surveyor Certificates and of course out sourced consultancy.

We as DAG have an agenda; to improve peoples live.

Case in point |
The mandate we received from Province was to Unblock a few Khayelitsha Housing Projects.
Essentially, our duty is to repair and/or construct 36 square meter public houses for 2173 beneficiaries.
Now, what happens if a beneficiary has a 40 square meter house?
Do we cut corners to be within budget? No we find alternatives.

Rather look at each beneficiary individually and address each unique case respectively.

There was an old lady who was bound on a wheel chair, she disparately needed an inside toilet in her house, which was 40 square meters big.

So do we ignore her 'unique' status quo  or construct a toilet in the inside?
Of course we construct the toilet inside, remember:
"We as DAG. have an agenda; to improve peoples lives"

this one of many plans to be processed so that beneficiaries may attain their own Title Deeds and be 'Homeowners'

:)  

CTD2strip sections

pss-pj

this is my first private job.
i enjoyed it.
House Bonke in Tambo Square in Nyanga Cape Flats.

Geniet

Minute Taking - A waste of time or Essential?

Dear Reader

Its been another busy week at DAG.

This week i realised how important minute taking is.
When meeting the Khayelitsha Team i have to take down minutes which inform the agenda, objectives and milestones we as DAG aim for. It was difficult to administer documents and circulate them to the rest of the team. Because I had never done it [documenting] before I was sceptical about the response, however with the help of my immediate and senior supervisors i got the hang of it.

Documenting helped me improve my grammar and style of writing as well as interact with other team member and understand their area of work and how to find coordination aligning it with our agenda, objective and milestones.
Thanks to DAG for the time and opportunity offered to me.
Cannot wait for the new week to begin, so I can continue to learn.

FYI here are our ''DAG Staff Members' Core Values.''
1. Appreciation and Respect
2. Balance
3. Continuous Learning
4. Integrity
5. Open and Honest Communication
6. Team Work
I'm doing my utmost to uphold the DAG Values...

Variant no 1

This is a complete model

Housing Protests

Dear Reader

In the past two weeks we have seen reports on protests in the Khayelitsha and Philippi areas due to a lack of housing or issues connected to Human Settlement.
I was affected and effected by these demonstration.

Firstly the Lansdowne road was blockaded by a burning Golden Arrow bus so we had to detour.

Secondly, because these issues are the very same issuse, we as DAG,  try to prevent or remedy. It was had to see how liitle we are doing. Currently we're constructing 2173 houses around Khayelitsha, which has a population of atleast half a million people 2173 is but a drop in the ocean.

We, as up and coming professionals in the Built Enivronment we should ensure that every human is settled.

for more info.
http://antieviction.org.za/tag/protest/

being a Daggy

Dear Reader

Its been 5 weeks since i started at DAG, it has been challenging because for Architectural Students we are not exposed to the policies proposal loobying and demonastrating a pro-poor agenda.
At school we are taught how to design spectecular houses with a budget of six digits, and we forget the 'bread and butter' issues that we are creating a situation where the ones who have and other who dont have then how do we then bridge the gap between the haves and the have nots. Poor people have no voice their pleas fall on deaf ears.
We at DAG give those who dont have a voice a chance to experince the same feelins as a person who has a million rand house in Clifton. The person in Khayelitsha will sleep better knowing that they have some one fighting for them.
I am proud to stand in the line for an hour getting plans approved knowing that at the end some one will spend a night under a secure roof to call His/Her own.

Regards
Daggy_

php house ( Variant 1)

3D model

Dear Reader

In the first week of July i was appointed at DAG (Development Action Group), as an intern in the Khayelitsha Public Housing Project (KPHP).
The project is focused on unblocking 9 (nine) Housing Projects, in total 2731 houses were supposed to be constructed.  

The 9 projects were blocked by Provincial Goverment due to corruption of some of the 9 Housing Project leaders, pocketing the funds from the Goverment. One of whom wasa tried and sentenced in the past few weeks. i will keep you updated with DAG's progress in achiving a milestone of providing the 2731 families with what is due to them.

DAG is a NGO which has a 'Pro-Poor' agenda and policies to restore the marginalised dignity, one-day-at-a-time.

'Let's Re-imagine Our City'.
I am having a wonderful time helping all those who find it impossible to.
I feel proud to be a 'Daggy'

Regards
Nkanyezi M Mdatyulwa
ND:Architectural Technology
CPUT

Eskom Lighting Competition

We have been approached to enter a "design effecient light" fittings for the annual competion. this is my entry.

pictures of the prototype will be uploaded shortly

our first exercise was to visit the Green point park, while we were there we should look at the timber structures and take pictures, looking at the connections, technology and the use of different materials.

it was a fun exercise.