South Africa needs all the help it can get to make a dent in its massive housing backlog.

South Africa needs all the help it can get to make a dent in its massive housing backlog.

So kudos to the government for being receptive to innovation in a bid to provide decent shelter for the army of the poor.

We are excited, albeit guardedly, by Gauteng housing MEC Nomvula Mokonyane's plan to introduce solid, prefabricated structures that she claims are superior to the matchboxes that pass for RDP houses.

The demand for houses continues to outstrip supply. Many people's hopes of ditching their barely habitable plastic and corrugated iron shacks for real houses have been raised and dashed before.

So do please convince us, Ms Mokonyane, that we should believe you have really found the Holy Grail of housing this time.