Related videos:
The South African opposition revealed that the Department of Defense spent 34 million rands (almost 1.9 million dollars) on a luxury charter flight to transport over 200 military personnel, including generals and cadets, to Havana last July, solely to attend a graduation ceremony that, they claim, had no operational or strategic value for the African country.
The trip, arranged by Cobra Aviation, included two segments between Johannesburg and the Cuban capital, featuring business class seats, gourmet snacks, fine cutlery, and other amenities reserved for high officials, reports the media News 24.
Among the passengers were also 19 Cubans returning to the island, which has raised suspicions that the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) may have served to subsidize bilateral logistics under the pretext of the graduation.
For the Democratic Alliance (DA), the main opposition party, the spending is an insult to the citizenry at a time when the South African military is facing non-operational submarines, soldiers who rely on donations for boots and uniforms, and months of delays in payments to suppliers.
Training in Cuba, they claim, has already proven to be ineffective. Last year, Pretoria canceled the air training agreement with the island because cadets were returning unable to operate under local standards, which required them to be retrained from scratch.
Facebook/Cobra Aviation.
Historical ties and growing criticism
The military cooperation between Havana and Pretoria dates back over a decade and has included the sending of hundreds of South African soldiers to train in Cuban academies, as well as the hiring of military technicians, doctors, and hydraulic engineers from the island for nearly 100 million dollars through various agreements.
The link has political roots, as the ruling African National Congress (ANC) has maintained a relationship of "old allies" with the Cuban regime since the struggle against apartheid.
But this closeness has generated a growing rejection within South Africa, where political and social sectors are questioning the expenditure of public resources amid an internal economic crisis.
The DA will request a parliamentary investigation, the publication of the audit record, and a cost-benefit analysis of the so-called Kgala Project, which included the flight to Cuba.
The opposition insists that the priority must be to restore the operational capacity of the army, not to finance ceremonial trips or sustain failed agreements with Cuba.
On the island, this episode serves as a reminder of how the Cuban regime continues to receive funding from its political allies, even amidst its own internal crises, at the expense of foreign taxpayers.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Million Dollar Flight to Cuba for a Military Graduation
How much did the charter flight from South Africa to Cuba cost?
The luxury charter flight cost 34 million rands, which is equivalent to nearly 1.9 million dollars. This expenditure has been criticized by the South African opposition due to the internal economic crisis and the unmet needs of the South African military.
What was the purpose of the flight to Cuba?
The flight was carried out with the sole purpose of attending a military graduation ceremony in Havana. The South African opposition criticizes that this event had no operational or strategic value for South Africa.
Why is military training in Cuba criticized in South Africa?
Military training in Cuba has been criticized for being ineffective. South African cadets return unable to operate under local standards, necessitating retraining, according to the South African opposition.
What suspicions has the trip to Cuba generated?
The trip has raised suspicions that it may have been used to fund the bilateral logistics between South Africa and Cuba. This is due to the presence of 19 Cubans on the flight, suggesting a strategic use of resources by the South African National Defence Force.
Filed under: