During a state visit to Cuba on Dec 7th, President Zuma, accompanied by some members of his cabinet, announced a credit line package to Cuba, which package includes the cancellation of a R1,1 billion debt which Cuba owes to South Africa. Since the announcement, many have been arguing about whether or not South African can afford to write off such a big amount in debt when the country is faced with such high unemployment (23.5%) and poverty. Those who make this argument miss the point and the point is that South Africa is yet to make proper amends to those countries which helped advance the liberation struggle course during the rime of apartheid.
The foundations of Zuma's legacy are becoming clearer
The point therefore, is that the credit line package along with the debt right-off, are a gesture by President Zuma on behalf of the ANC and the people of South Africa, aimed at making it right with countries such as Cuba for their contribution to the liberation course of the ANC and its alliance partners. As stated in an earlier article, it is my view that what is beginning to emerge is that President Zuma seems to be on a path towards building a legacy which will tell a story of his Presidency as being the one which initiated the process of paying back to those countries which for decades invested heavily in the sustainability of the ANC during the decades of apartheid. Many would argue that you can never put a price on the role such countries as Cuba played in keeping the ANC and its allied partners alive during the critical struggle years. "Paying" back old debts is therefore going to be the hallmark of President Zuma's foreign relations agenda. South Africa must e expect more such gestures from President Zuma in the future, aimed at other countries.
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