Cape Town – South Africans have reacted angrily to reports that the SA government plans to donate R50 million to Cuba to help that country with its dwindling food security amid sanctions imposed by the United States of America.
According to The Citizen, the news was brought to the attention of the Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation on Wednesday by Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Alvin Botes.
“I thought it is important that the parliamentary committee gets briefed about the fact that we have committed to allocate an amount of R50 million for special intervention purposes as it relates to the Cuban people, who have experienced food security challenges, because of the sanctions levelled against the people of Cuba by the United States of America,” the report quoted Botes as saying.
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According to Times Live, in 2020 the SA National Defence Force forked out more than R200 million to obtain nearly a million doses of interferon from Cuba, bypassing procurement laws in order to protect its members from Covid-19.
“This was done despite the drug not being registered with the SA Health Products Regulatory Authority and bypassing procurement laws,” the report said.
Many citizens lashed at the R50 million donation to Cuba, as they asked why a country with high unemployment and poverty rates felt the need to give such a large sum of money to Cuba.
Take a look at some of the reactions below:
Government is donating R50M to Cuba food security but here in SA people are going hungry. ?
— Ulrich Janse van Vuuren (@UlrichJvV) February 2, 2022
Not South African Government paying 50million to Cuba while thousands of Students can not register and many still have outstanding NSFAS debt Tjuuu our Government??
— MPISANE ANERA?? (@Manelis15260228) February 2, 2022
I’m starting to think Cuba has our nudes, otherwise how do you explain this pic.twitter.com/YytVNvT74n
— Mashupye Masemola (@BaMpitsaShupes) February 2, 2022
Cuba must be our 11th province after Lesotho and Swaziland. pic.twitter.com/q1xQN47FI3
— Ponagatso Ngob’za (@Ponagatso_) February 2, 2022
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Compiled by Sinothando Siyolo
