South African engineers are calling for their Cuban counterparts who have been brought in to help improve service delivery in the Free State to go back home.
The SA Institution of Civil Engineering on Tuesday expressed its disgust and disapproval at the decision taken by Free State government to bring Cuban engineers to help in delivering services in the province.
South African Institution of Civil Engineering (Saice) CEO Manglin Pillay said Cuban engineers should not be allowed to practice in South Africa as they cannot be registered by the Engineering Council of SA (ECSA).
“They can also not mentor aspiring registrant graduate engineers in SA‚ according to a law created by the South African government — the Engineering Profession Act of 2000‚” Pillay said.
By Tuesday‚ about 38 of the 40 Cuban engineers had arrived in the country to work in the Free State.
Receiving the engineers‚ Free State Premier Ace Magashule said the Cubans were highly qualified to do their work in the country. Their fields of expertise include civil engineering‚ hydraulic‚ structural and mechanical engineering as well as project management.
They will mainly be involved in construction of government-subsidised settlements‚ houses‚ the provision of water‚ planning and project management‚ sewerage and bulk infrastructure basic services supply.
But Pillay said the decision of provincial government to appoint Cuban engineers illustrated the state’s disregard for local industry bodies concerned.
“It brings to the fore the apathy and general disregard for the opinions of industry institutions and highly acknowledged key decision makers. Saice implores the department to review the Cuban appointments and to invite relevant institutions to fashion alternatives that are more appropriate to the challenges at hand.”
He argued that the engineering institutions have direct access to and influence on its members‚ some of whom have indicated willingness to work in the public sector.
According a Saice survey amongst 380 of its members‚ 40% indicated their willingness to work in the public sector‚ Pillay said.
“In addition‚ Consulting Engineers SA has publicly confirmed that there is currently a 40% under-utilisation of local consulting engineering capacity in South Africa.”
According to Saice‚ Cuban engineering practitioners are not recognised by the ECSA‚ to which South African engineering practitioners have to adhere‚ as Cuba is not a signatory to the Washington‚ Sydney or Dublin accords. These accords are international agreements that govern engineering education and recognition and have a direct impact on South African engineers being sought after globally.
Pillay said he “would like to see the Cuban engineers sent back home”
Send Cubans back home‚ say SA engineers
South African engineers are calling for their Cuban counterparts who have been brought in to help improve service delivery in the Free State to go back home.
The SA Institution of Civil Engineering on Tuesday expressed its disgust and disapproval at the decision taken by Free State government to bring Cuban engineers to help in delivering services in the province.
South African Institution of Civil Engineering (Saice) CEO Manglin Pillay said Cuban engineers should not be allowed to practice in South Africa as they cannot be registered by the Engineering Council of SA (ECSA).
“They can also not mentor aspiring registrant graduate engineers in SA‚ according to a law created by the South African government — the Engineering Profession Act of 2000‚” Pillay said.
By Tuesday‚ about 38 of the 40 Cuban engineers had arrived in the country to work in the Free State.
Receiving the engineers‚ Free State Premier Ace Magashule said the Cubans were highly qualified to do their work in the country. Their fields of expertise include civil engineering‚ hydraulic‚ structural and mechanical engineering as well as project management.
They will mainly be involved in construction of government-subsidised settlements‚ houses‚ the provision of water‚ planning and project management‚ sewerage and bulk infrastructure basic services supply.
But Pillay said the decision of provincial government to appoint Cuban engineers illustrated the state’s disregard for local industry bodies concerned.
“It brings to the fore the apathy and general disregard for the opinions of industry institutions and highly acknowledged key decision makers. Saice implores the department to review the Cuban appointments and to invite relevant institutions to fashion alternatives that are more appropriate to the challenges at hand.”
He argued that the engineering institutions have direct access to and influence on its members‚ some of whom have indicated willingness to work in the public sector.
According a Saice survey amongst 380 of its members‚ 40% indicated their willingness to work in the public sector‚ Pillay said.
“In addition‚ Consulting Engineers SA has publicly confirmed that there is currently a 40% under-utilisation of local consulting engineering capacity in South Africa.”
According to Saice‚ Cuban engineering practitioners are not recognised by the ECSA‚ to which South African engineering practitioners have to adhere‚ as Cuba is not a signatory to the Washington‚ Sydney or Dublin accords. These accords are international agreements that govern engineering education and recognition and have a direct impact on South African engineers being sought after globally.
Pillay said he “would like to see the Cuban engineers sent back home”
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