I was the Deputy Director for Technological Development at the Housing and Industrial Building Company #3 in Havana City, Cuba at the time when I was recruited to South Africa. While in South Africa, I gained invaluable experience working within local communities.


South Africa and Cuba have maintained long- standing relations, dating back to the struggle against apartheid and colonialism in the sub- region. Despite the people to people contacts, it was only after South Africa’s democratic transition, that Cuban and South African diplomatic relations were formally established on 11 May 1994.


The South Africa-Cuba Joint Bilateral Commission provides the two countries with a constructive and useful forum through which bilateral cooperation can be conducted and enhanced.


There are different forms of cooperation that have ensued. Agreements of Memorandum


of Understanding are in place in the fields of trade and investments, housing construction, water resources, merchant shipping, agriculture, science and technology, education, arts and culture, sports and provinces’ sisterhood exchange.


Currently, more than 300 Cuban cooperative personnel are working in South Africa in the construction and health sectors, while South African students have graduated or are being trained on the island in medicine, education, physical education and sports specialities.


The Governments of Cuba and South Africa have an agreement in place that aims to help boost the plans of providing proper shelter for the poor and technical expertise according to each Province’s housing needs. The agreement relates to technical assistance that is to be rendered by Cuban architects and engineers in support of the low cost housing process in South Africa.


April 2012 | Management Today 87


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