A group of 51 construction experts have
arrived in South Africa from Cuba to assist
the country's skills shortage in the building
sector.
The arrival of the experts follows the signing
of a Memorandum of Agreement between
South African Minister of Public Works,
Thoko Didiza and Cuban Minister of
Construction, Fidel Segeroa de la Paz, in July
2007.
The agreement entailed South Africa
employing Cuban technical advisors in the
fields of architecture, engineering, project
management and other fields in the building
and property industries, a move necessitated
by a shortage of skills in the country.
Welcoming the experts on Friday, the
minister said South Africa has always been
aware that it can bank on a mutually
beneficial relationship with the Cubans. "The
Cubans understand the responsibility they
carry in the country and do not see it as a
bargain but responsibility for building
humanely in the world," said Minister Didiza.
She said recruiting these experts is one way
of dealing with the crisis of lack of skilled
artisans to carry out all the massive
infrastructure projects.
"At the launch of Joint Initiative for Priority Skills Acquisition
(JIPSA), Deputy President, Phumzile-Mlambo-Ngcuka
formally declared a skills crisis with particular reference to the
type of skills required by built (building) environment
professions," said Ms Didiza.
She said the 10 percent per annum
growth rate in the building sector is
unfortunately being hobbled badly by
skills and capacity problems in terms of
skilled personnel in the sector.
"The challenge is to get as quickly as
possible the largest numbers of skilled
artisans and professionals into the sector and that is why we
believe that the arrival of these Cuban technical advisors will
help us to achieve quick wins in the short term and create a
base of skilled professionals for the long term," the minister
said.
The Cuban technical advisors will be working on a three-year
contract. They will be located throughout the country where
they will impart technical skills and interact with provincial
MEC's.
Some advisors will remain in the head offices to impart skills
and mentor interns.
Source: BauNews (Tshwane) - 27/1/2008
Why import foreigners who know nothing about South African conditions and infrastructure. It will take them 3 years to learn what to do in SA and by then they wll be sent back - what a waste of time and money when the expertize exist here in SA - just look at moladi