The book that every South African should have

"How to buy a house for half the price is a must read for all South Africans, especially those who fall outside the state low cost housing subsidy net. It is an important and timely book given the demand for housing amongst young black South Africans who either resort to buying homes through finance capital or to renting town house complexes in the country's suburbs," Kunene said.

"It is particularly relevant when considering how banks muzzle and rob thousands of South Africans of their right to decent housing by evicting defaulters and repossessing hundreds of homes yearly.

"This book is an empowering tool for those currently facing the might of finance capital. It can teach you how to play the game to your benefit; how to beat the banks at their own game and how to maximise the gains out of a situation that is not designed to favour you. This alone, makes the book a good read."

The book, which is written in simple language for anyone who can read English to understand, looks at the housing situation in South Africa and the fact that the government, despite its good intentions, can never meet the housing demand.

The waiting list is growing longer and there are now approximately 8 million people living in informal settlements.

It also looks at:

• Whether to rent or to buy and the advantages of buying over renting
  
• How much bond one qualifies for, that is the maximum amount a bank can give you based on your income and how you can calculate this for yourself
  
• How to get out of debt and what the debt situation is like in South Africa (South Africans owe more money than Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan set aside to run the country this year)
  
• How to save for your first house, the important point being that saving has nothing to do with how much you earn but how you use what you earn
  
• Buying your first house, what is required, payments you have to make besides the deposit for the house such as transfer fees and bond registration
  
• Buying a flat which you have to do on what is called sectional title and what this entails
  
• Buying land to build your own house, the advantages and disadvantages; one of which is that normally it is more expensive to build your own house than to buy an existing one
  
• How to save thousands on your bond by making simple incremental payments on your bond. An extra R100 a month on a R300 000 bond for example will cut your 20-year bond by 21 months- yes, one year and nine months.
  
• Saving millions- how lump sum payments will cut your repayment period even further. If you decide to pay your annual bonus of R9 000 on a R300 000 bond and continue to make your usual monthly payments, you will pay off your house in 11 and a half years instead of 20.

Kunene was not alone in her praise of the book. Justice Nicholas Ndou, a former Senior Legal Advisor to the Gauteng Provincial Legislature and former Secretary of the Limpopo Provincial Legislature, had this to say:

"This concise and simple yet comprehensive guide to owning a house or shelter is a fundamental tool in the search for and the acquisition of an affordable decent home. It is trite that although the concept of privately owning a house is today regarded as fundamental, its universal acceptance is of recent origin. It was not until the 15th century that there was movement from community ownership to private or individual ownership of property like houses.

"Over the years the demand for houses has increased as the population increased. The number of people who could afford houses diminished. Speculative and other negative forces entered the fray. This resulted in a need for interventions. Charles Rukuni took up the challenge in this guide.

"As a seasoned journalist, his writing on affordable housing brings a combination of talents of journalism, social theory and practical-mindedness. He vigorously informs potential home buyers, seekers and other stakeholders that housing is recognised in international law as a fundamental economic and social right.

"He avoids substituting illusion for reality. I am convinced that this work will be of considerable assistance to housing practitioners, students, financers of housing projects and government officials whose duty it is to deliver affordable and decent housing."

Renowned political activist and author of Through the Darkness- a Life in Zimbabwe, Judith Todd, added her voice:

"This brilliant little book should help vastly improve your life. It's value has been demonstrated by the author himself who, starting from 1983 with very little, now owns four houses. It is a joy to read as the fundamental information and financial advice provided is spiced with wit and compassion. Rukuni really wants us all to have a secure home, the essential foundation from which to seek the abundance life should promise."

This is what some of the readers who bought the book had to say:

"Dear Charles, I collected my book on the 26th Jan already. I came home that day and started reading, I couldn't put the book down. So I finished reading that same night. I really enjoyed the book, and received valuable information. I just wish me and my husband bought our house much sooner than we did."- Cynthia Jasmith-Ikaneng -Johannesburg

"Hi Charles, I got the book and thank you very much. I just finished reading it now (every chance I got at work I read), I'm in my early 30's and intend to get married very soon so buying a house is one of the things that are on my mind. I must say I like the way you compiled it as it makes it very easy to understand and there were lots of things I was not aware of but now I know (thanks to you). You should see the highlighter markings I made. I will most definitely tell everyone I know about it and that they should get a copy, it's a great guideline and I am going to apply it and I can't wait for my girlfriend to read it when I get home."- Lungisa Gqirana- Kimberley.

There you have it.

The book is now available as an ebook from Amazon here, which means you can download it in less than a minute once you have paid.

For companies, I believe this is an ideal present for your workers. I have a few printed copies of the first edition which I am selling in bulk in batches of 50 and above. I only have 2000 copies. I am also prepared to brand the book for you- that is, publish it in your colours.

You might also be interested in my other book, which is available as an ebook only, also from Amazon. It is entitled: When religious beliefs clash with journalism principles. This is about the trials and tribulations I had to go through for six years as a journalist when a prophet from our church the Zion Christian Church led by Bishop Nehemiah Mutendi said followers should leave politics alone because Mugabe was going to outlast all his major enemies. If you haven't heard about this church, whose headquarters is in Zimbabwe, this is an opportunity to learn about it as it is celebrating "100 years of true prophecy" this year- 2013- and now has more than 20 parishes in South Africa.

You might also enjoy stories on my website: www.insiderzim.com

I have also started a blog on the mortgage book: http://howtobuyahouseinsouthafrica.blogspot.com/ to promote the book and keep those interested briefed on the latest housing trends.

To contact the author, email me on: moc.mizredisni@inukurselrahc