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The South African Army and the Department of Defense came forward to justify the expenditure of 34 million rands (almost 1.9 million dollars) on a luxury charter flight to Cuba, amid public outrage and criticism from the opposition denouncing an insulting waste during a time of crisis.
The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) confirmed that the aircraft, contracted from Cobra Aviation, was necessary to repatriate 212 medical and engineering students trained on the island, and denied that the graduation ceremony held in Havana was the reason for the trip.
“The flight was organized for logistical and security reasons, to ensure the safe return of the deployed personnel”, stated the Department of Defense in a statement published by the South African newspaper IOL.
The explanation comes after the opposition group Alianza Democrática (DA) revealed that the plane, equipped with a business class cabin and amenities reserved for generals, transported students and high-ranking officials, in addition to 19 Cuban citizens who traveled back to the island on the outbound flight.
The plane was designed to include a business class cabin with gourmet snacks, fine cutlery, luxury pillows, and high-end catering. "At least 25 business class seats were reserved for generals and command staff of the SANDF," stated the DA.
For the DA, this demonstrates that the SANDF ended up subsidizing, with public funds, the bilateral logistics with Havana.
Facebook/Cobra Aviation.
The scandal is escalating because the spending occurs while the South African army is going through a deep crisis with submarines out of service, soldiers relying on donations for boots and uniforms, unpaid suppliers, and morale plummeting.
“It is an insult to South Africans”, denounced the opposition spokesperson Chris Hattingh, who described the operation as “scandalous and unjustifiable.”
Pretoria defended that, without the capability for strategic air transport, external chartering is “the only viable solution” and that a commercial flight for more than 200 people would have been more complex and costly. The aircraft was acquired through the transversal contract RT61, in full compliance with the National Treasury supply chain regulations, they assured.
They also insisted that the transported Cuban citizens did not increase the cost of the charter, but rather were part of the "long-standing bilateral movement coordination."
According to a statement from the Director of Corporate Communication of Defense, Rear Admiral (JG) Príncipe Tshabalala, "the Department acknowledges the sensitivities surrounding these agreements and
Meanwhile, the DA spokesperson for Defense and Military Veterans, Chris Hattingh, stated that “this trip reflects a pattern of militarized luxury at the expense of public accountability. The Prosecutor's Office will investigate the total cost, the approval process, and the impact of the Kgala Project; the publication of the audit record, the cost-benefit analysis, and the flight report; an urgent review by the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA); and the possible referral to the Ombudsman for waste and misappropriation of public funds.”
The controversy reignites the debate over the military cooperation agreements between South Africa and Cuba, which in recent years have cost Pretoria hundreds of millions of dollars and which the opposition deems failed.
Last year, the South African government canceled an air training agreement with Havana because the cadets were returning unable to operate under local standards and needed to be retrained from scratch.
Beyond the political crossover in South Africa, the episode resonates in Cuba as a reminder of how the island's regime continues to receive economic support from its international allies, at the expense of foreign taxpayers, while Cubans face one of the worst social and economic crises in decades.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Million-Dollar Flight Scandal to Cuba from South Africa
Why did the South African government spend 34 million rands on a flight to Cuba?
The South African Army justified the expenditure on a luxury charter flight to Cuba to repatriate 212 medical and engineering students trained on the island, citing logistical and security reasons. However, the opposition views it as an unjustifiable waste during times of crisis, pointing out that the flight also included high-ranking military officials and Cuban citizens, raising suspicions of subsidies related to bilateral logistics between the two countries.
What criticism has the South African government received for the flight to Cuba?
The South African opposition and social sectors have harshly criticized the government for this million-dollar expenditure, deeming it an insult to the citizenry amid an internal economic crisis. It is argued that the spending holds no operational or strategic value for the country and that the military faces more pressing issues, such as the lack of equipment and uniforms for soldiers.
What is the relationship between South Africa and Cuba in military and economic terms?
The military cooperation between South Africa and Cuba has a history of over a decade, including the deployment of South African soldiers for training in Cuban academies and the hiring of military and medical technicians from the island. These agreements have cost Pretoria hundreds of millions of dollars, but they have faced criticism regarding their effectiveness and the expenditure of public resources amid an internal crisis.
What impact does this scandal have on public perception and agreements with Cuba?
The scandal has intensified public rejection of the cooperation agreements with Cuba, viewed by many as a failure that squanders resources in times of need. The opposition has called for parliamentary investigations and reviews of these agreements, while in Cuba, the episode underscores how the regime continues to benefit from its international allies, at the expense of foreign taxpayers.
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