Jubilation filled the air during the official handover of houses to 76 indigent families in Lindelani just outside Galeshewe in Kimberley on Thursday 13 November 2014.

The houses were built by 90 youth volunteers following a national youth service program launched by Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa. The project, which is rotating countrywide, is dedicated to the 1976 Youth uprisings.

An elated Annie Motlhodiemang (53), new owner of one of the Corobrik sponsored houses, was born in Galeshewe and moved to Lindelani in 2000 to seek shelter for herself, two children and one grandchild. Houses are 40m² with disability-friendly toilets.

Musa Shangase, Corobrik commercial director, was at the opening and said he was delighted to assist people like Annie Motlhodiemang, a domestic worker who has struggled to earn money to feed her family. The shack she lived in for the past 14 years was blown away several times by severe winds. She is now happy to receive a ‘proper’ house, built using quality materials, that lends dignity and provides a sense of home.

Corobrik’s Nebraska Travertine Light Face brick, with double skin brickwork, has been used on the houses being built at Lindelani. A double skinned face brick structure fulfils all three sustainable development imperatives – economic, social and environmental.

The high thermal mass inherent in double skin clay brick cavity walls of these smaller footprint homes is what helps keep the inside of such homes cool in summer and warm in winter. This is important in the Northern Cape, which has widely fluctuating temperatures.

Owners are pleased with the natural colour of the face brick and, more importantly, they will never have to spend money on painting the outside walls.

Corobrik donated two houses in the 14-year-old informal settlement. At the opening Premier Lucas hailed the project as a huge success by all three spheres of Government.