Solidarity and minister to meet tonight about Cuban engineers

10 May 2021

Solidarity will meet Minister Lindiwe Sisulu and her department tonight at 17:30 about the engineers that have been imported from Cuba. This comes after Solidarity instituted legal proceedings in connection with the issue as Solidarity is questioning the legality of this move by the minister.

“Solidarity welcomes the decision of the Minister and the Department of Human Settlements, water and Sanitation to engage in discussions with us. We will use the opportunity to draw the Minister’s attention to the fact that there is sufficient expertise in South Africa to resolve the issues ourselves without having to resort to getting help from a country that is also facing similar challenges,” Dr Dirk Hermann, Solidarity chief executive said.

“It is important that the minister also realises that the importation of so-called expertise is subject to certain regulations and provisions, and that her Cuban engineers are not accredited in South Africa as they do not comply with the provisions of the South African Engineering Council (ECSA). If we cannot reach an agreement on the issue, Solidarity will continue with the proposed legal action against the minister and her department,” Hermann concluded.

Issued by Morné Malan, Head: Communication, Solidarity, 10 May 2021