'I Just Got Tired of Waiting': South African Student Builds His Own House From Soil & Plastic Waste
19:32 26.02.2026 (Updated: 21:39 26.02.2026)
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Faced with a personal housing shortage, University of Cape Town MSc student Matimba Mabonda turned his own problem into an innovation—building a three-bedroom home for his family using soil and recycled waste.
In an interview with Sputnik Africa, Mabonda explained how his project tackles two crises at once: South Africa's 122 million tonnes of annual waste and its urgent housing shortage.
How it works:
🟠 Materials: On-site soil, plastic waste, and stabilizers—no mortar or traditional sand—plus a tensioning system for strength.
🟠 Savings: 20–25% cheaper than conventional construction; cuts carbon emissions by 50–88%; naturally regulates indoor temperature.
🟠 Scalability: No materials transported—soil tested on-site and building begins, adaptable across Africa.
Watch the video to hear his call to African innovators
In an interview with Sputnik Africa, Mabonda explained how his project tackles two crises at once: South Africa's 122 million tonnes of annual waste and its urgent housing shortage.
How it works:
🟠 Materials: On-site soil, plastic waste, and stabilizers—no mortar or traditional sand—plus a tensioning system for strength.
🟠 Savings: 20–25% cheaper than conventional construction; cuts carbon emissions by 50–88%; naturally regulates indoor temperature.
🟠 Scalability: No materials transported—soil tested on-site and building begins, adaptable across Africa.
Watch the video to hear his call to African innovators
