- JOHANNESBURG: South African President Jacob Zuma has announced a 210 million rand ($30 million) aid package for Cuba and forgiven Cuba’s debt to South Africa.
Zuma also said on his state visit to Cuba this week that Cuba would get trading credits to import South African goods. South Africa’s main opposition group on Wednesday criticized the aid package. They say improved relations with Cuba offers little to South Africans or to the country’s economy.
South African exports to Cuba have fallen to 1 million rand ($144,000) in 2010 from R82 million ($12 million) in 2008.
South Africa and Cuba have had close ties since South Africa’s first democratic elections in 1994. In October, South Africa supported the UN in condemning almost a half-century of US sanctions against Cuba.