Johannesburg, February 16 (RHC) -– South African Water and Sanitation Minister Nomvula Mokonyane has welcomed 34 Cuban water experts who are in the country to share their skills and improve the quality of water.

The arrival of the experts follows a bilateral agreement between South Africa and Cuba in 2014 on cooperation in the fields of water resources management and water supply.

The specialists have been contracted to work in South Africa for two years, with the possibility of extending their stay for another year. They will be deployed at the water department's head office in Pretoria as well as in rural areas of South Africa where there is a shortage of skilled workers. The Cuban specialists include civil, electrical, hydraulic and mechanical engineers, and irrigation and drainage specialists.

Speaking at the welcoming ceremony held on Sunday afternoon at the Sheraton Hotel, Minister Mokonyane said even though Cuba was a small country, it was a country with a big heart.

"South Africans will never forget the many Cuban soldiers who sacrificed their lives in Angola and Namibia for the sake of the freedom of the Southern African nations.”

"We still cherish the passion that was displayed by Fidel Castro and Che Guevara for their determination to liberate our nations. We also appreciate the fact that Cuban doctors are working with our national Department of Health to improve the quality of life of our people," Minister Mokonyane said.