The first of a total of forty Cuban engineers have arrived in the Free State on Sunday, with the rest expected to arrive on Monday.

They will mainly be involved in improving service delivery, the construction of government subsidised settlements, houses, the provision of water, planning and project management, sewerage and bulk infrastructure basic services supply.

Their fields of expertise include civil engineering, hydraulic, structural and mechanical engineering as well as project management.

According to ANC Free State spokesperson Thabo Meeko, the recruitment of the Cuban engineers is part of the partnership between South Africa and Cuba that spans more than 10 years.

They are on contract for two years and will be strategically placed throughout the province, mainly in municipalities, to improve service delivery. News 24