Solidarity wins battle for information; can now proceed with review application on Cuban engineers

30 May 2021

The Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation has provided Solidarity with comprehensive information on the Cubans who are to come and perform engineering work in South Africa.

According to Solidarity Chief Executive Dr Dirk Hermann, the fact that this information has been provided is a first but important victory in the legal battle against the importation of Cuban engineers. “It is a shame that the Minister deliberately misled the public in a statement by saying that the case had been withdrawn. There is no question of that happening. The urgent case has merely been removed from the court roll after an agreement between the parties.”

This disclosure of information followed after an urgent court application in which Solidarity brought an interdict application pending the disclosure of information.

The fact that the information has now been disclosed means that Solidarity's urgent application need not go ahead on 1 June.

The parties agreed that the urgent case could be removed from the court roll for now and that costs be reserved until the main case is heard.

Solidarity can now proceed with the review application to have the Minister’s decision on the Cuban engineers declared invalid.

“We received the information sooner than expected. With this information at our disposal, we can now proceed at full force with the review application so that the minister’s decision to import die Cubans can be declared invalid,” said Dr Hermann.

Solidarity will disclose new information on the importation of the Cubans on 1 June at 13:00. This will include whether they are in fact employees, the actual amounts involved, whether they comply with the South African registration requirements and whether they will perform engineering work in South Africa. Solidarity will also provide more information on the bilateral agreement with Cuba.

Issued by Morné Malan, Head: Communications, Solidarity, 30 May 2021