SANDF wonât disclose salaries paid to Cubans By Mayibongwe Maqhina Share Cape Town - Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula says the SANDF did not know the cost of employing Cuban nationals. She has however revealed that the payment towards Project Thusano totalled R1.06 million. Mapisa-Nqakula revealed this while responding to parliamentary questions from DA MP Nomsa Marchesi. Marchesi enquired about the number of Cubans employed by the department since 2010 and plans to employ other specialists in the next three financial years. She also wanted to know the costs of employing the Cubans and whether the SANDF took steps to ensure skills were available in the country.