AfriForum appears in court to once and for all stop the South African government’s R50 million donation to Cuba

15 May 2023

Judgment has been reserved in the Pretoria High Court where the civil rights organisation AfriForum today appeared with a review application to once and for all stop the government’s intended R50 million donation to the Cuban government.

AfriForum already in 2022 obtained an urgent interdict to prevent the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) from donating R50 million to the Cuban government. The government’s attempt to appeal was dismissed.

“South Africa currently finds itself in a power crisis, an unemployment crisis, a corruption crisis and an economic growth crisis. There is no justification for a R50 million donation to Cuba,” says Ernst van Zyl, Campaign Officer for Strategy and Content at AfriForum.

“If ANC comrades are so desperate to donate millions to their friends in the Cuban government, they can fund this expense themselves with the help of the excessive salaries of more than R2,4 million per year that ministers earn,” concludes Van Zyl.

Issued by Ernst van Zyl, Campaign Officer: Strategy and Content, AfriForum, 15 May 2023