Pres. Jacob Zuma of South Africa announced recently that his country
would provide a $30 million credit package to Cuba. He also stated that
South Africa would forgive the $161 million debt of the island country.
Zuma’s opponents have spoken out against this aid, claiming that it will
not help the South African economy. South Africa’s National Union of
Mineworkers, however, supports the debt forgiveness.
Zuma, who
wound up a two-day state visit on Dec. 7, announced other measures to
boost trade and investment between the two countries, including $14.6
million from the African Renaissance Fund. South Africa gave Cuba seeds
and fertilizer to help restore Cuban agricultural production after the
2008 hurricane. Cuba has also helped South Africa by opposing the
apartheid government and sending health workers after the fall of
apartheid.
South Africa has stood against the U.S. economic
blockade of Cuba. Cuba would not need this help if U.S. imperialism was
not constantly trying to crush Cuba.
