Cuba Turns to South Africa for Financial Assistance

[XXPANTHAXX]

CAPE TOWN — Facing an economic embargo from the United States, Cuba turns to South Africa for financial assistance, it was revealed here yesterday.

Cuba is among the major recipients of aid from South Africa, getting R100 million (about US$12,5 million) in financial assistance in the last financial year, Minister of International Relations and Co-operation Maite Nkoane-Mashabane said.

South Africa provided Cuba with the financial assistance to help support the Carribean country’s economic recovery following the 2008 hurricanes, Maite Nkoane-Mashabane said in a written response to a question raised in the National Assembly about the amount of aid the South African government provided to countries in the last three financial years.

In terms of getting financial aid from South Africa, Cuba came second to the Democratic Republic of Congo which received R126 million in the last financial year, during which a total of R268 million was provided to 19 countries, according to Nkoane-Mashabane.
Early this year, South Africa and Cuba reached an agreement, under which the former would provide the latter with an economic package worth more than

R300 million.

The package comprises two direct grants, which includes a US$14 million “solidarity grant”, and a low-interest repayable loan of R210 million.
The second grant of R40 million is for the purchase of seeds, R5 million which must be spent on the South African market.

South Africa and Cuba have maintained good relations. Trade between the two countries totalled R73 million in 2010.
In 2010, South Africa wrote off two debts, to the tune of R926 million and R121 million owed by Cuba

[PTB]

Well it seems that South Africa (Azania) ain't completely screwing up but they are doing too much. You can't play both sides. It's either Cuba/China or the European Union/America.

[Warrior Princess]

Just a few reminders, though there are many.

Fidel Castro of Cuba sent troops from Cuba to the Congo not to defend imperialism but to help defend the right to self-determination.

In the same way, while Europe and the United States of America were supporting the system of apartheid in South Africa, Fidel Castro of Cuba was sending troops from Cuba to South Africa to help to bring this system down.