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Government to oppose Solidarity’s court application over use of Cuban engineers on SA’s water infrastructure

Details

SolidarityNews24Wire reports that in a statement on Saturday, the Department of Water and Sanitation advised that it will be opposing a court application by Solidarity to reverse the deployment of engineers from Cuba in SA.

The department said it was satisfied that it had addressed all concerns raised by the trade union and went on to indicate: “The department reiterates that the input of the Cuban engineers in the work of the department is very minimal and only a fraction of the technical engineering work implemented by the department. Their presence is meant to support and complement the technical engineering work in the department. Therefore, the provisions of the EPA [Engineering Profession Act] and the ECSA [Engineering Council of South Africa] do not prohibit the use of foreign engineers by entities and government departments in South Africa.” According to Solidarity, it had met with department officials to ask that the programme be suspended and had further presented a list of 132 engineers whom it believed could do the work. Department officials requested an opportunity to present an alternative proposal, and the deadline was extended twice, but the proposal was never received, the union indicated. According to the department, a virtual meeting was held last week where questions were raised by the union and answered by officials. Solidarity has filed an urgent application, asking the Gauteng North High Court for an interdict preventing Cuban engineers from doing any work on SA’s water infrastructure, and requiring that no payments be made in relation to the agreement between government and Cuba.

  • Read the full original of the report in the above regard at The Citizen


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