Alternative building innovations used to fight the spread of the Coronavirus

The coronavirus pandemic has propelled us forward, encouraging us to think critically about new ways of interacting and doing business. The founder of Smart Living Properties (PTY) Ltd was born and raised in Dube, Soweto. Growing up in a two room house with a family of eight, he discovered his talent for drawing which has now turned into a career. Having grown up in a township made him familiar with the challenges that are faced by communities such as his own. He has set out to inspire and uplift communities that are experiencing great difficulty in implementing basic preventative measures.

Smart Living Properties is a property development company that focuses on the use of alternative building methods that are cost effective in order to meet client needs. This small business founded by Wandile Robin Moganedi who is an architectural draughtsman by profession, is creating turnkey solutions in the architectural and design sector. The business specialises in shipping container conversions that are reused and turned into offices, libraries and even school sanitation/ablution units.

Mr Moganedi’s business has created a Smart-Disinfecting unit which aims to assist government in reducing the spread of COVID-19. The Smart-Disinfecting unit is a shipping container, manufactured to be placed in areas of large masses such as malls, schools, sporting events and areas of public transportation. The design and planning phase began when the president announced the national lockdown, it took two weeks to plan and another week to build the prototype unit. The organisation has already donated units which are in use at Maponya Mall and a High School in Soweto.

However, putting these units together has been no easy feat and has come at a great cost to the business. There were financial challenges in raising funds to build these units, even though funds were restricted during the lockdown they felt the need to build a unit that would help people in high density areas such as Soweto. This includes individuals who need but cannot afford to buy sanitisers and PPE’s given that the majority come from low income households.

Small Living Properties has gone to great lengths, even securing loans, in order to make small changes in communities that will make a big difference. Mr Moganedi believes that with support from the government the Smart-Disinfecting unit could assist in preventing the spread of the coronavirus. Particularly, in areas that would be most vulnerable to the potential impact of the virus such as townships and rural areas.