Deschapells of the Republic of Cuba
13 December 2006
Minister Lindiwe Sisulu met with Mr Rafael Deschapells, Deputy Minister of
Construction of the Republic of Cuba, in Pretoria yesterday, 11 December 2006,
to discuss co-operation between the two countries on technical assistance in
the field of housing delivery.
Cuba and South Africa have entered into an agreement on seconding Cuban
technical advisors to various provinces in order to facilitate skills transfer
and capacity building. This co-operation has been very successful thus far.
Since 2003, more than 60 advisors have been working with South African
officials, mostly in People's Housing Process (PHP) projects, where
beneficiaries actively participate in the building of their own houses.
These Cuban experts with engineering or an architecture background have in
the past three years assisted in developing building inspection manuals,
computer programmes and management manuals, as well as various innovative house
designs for the Government Subsidised Housing Scheme, and also developed
handbooks for beneficiaries involved in PHP, and have thus contributed
immensely to PHP projects.
Both Ministers had a very frank discussion about the challenges that remain
for South Africa in terms of housing delivery for the poor and the ways in
which Cuba can further assist South Africa in the future.
Three additional areas of co-operation were identified, namely:
* Further increasing the number of Cuban technical advisors working in South
Africa (the previous team of advisors has already been replaced by a second
group, which will total 66 people, working on housing-related projects
throughout South Africa).
* Co-operating with Cuba on national training for both artisans and public
servants such as building inspectors in order to make up for capacity shortages
in crucial areas of housing delivery.
* Co-operating with Cuba in addressing the supply of cement. The Department is
currently exploring ways in which sufficient cement at affordable prices can be
assured in order to prevent material supply shortages becoming an obstacle for
housing delivery.
Minister Sisulu also indicated that a team led by Director-General Kotsoane,
would visit Cuba in January 2007 to hold in-depth technical discussions on
these three areas. The Minister indicated that another area possibly worth
exploring further, in conjunction with South Africa's National Youth Commission
(NYC), was the Cuban model of 'housing brigades,' to increase activism,
especially by the youth, around housing delivery.
Enquiries:
Monwabisi Maclean
Cell: 082 882 2962
Issued by: Department of Housing
13 December 2006
Source: Department of Housing (http://www.housing.gov.za)
