South Africa’s Debt to Cuba

By Professor Richard Pithouse 

The Cuban people have long carried a moral weight in global struggles for justice, and South Africa’s debt to them is profound. When Cuba stood against apartheid, sending soldiers to Angola and offering solidarity to liberation movements, it did so not for material gain but out of principle. For South Africans, this solidarity was not abstract. It was decisive in shifting the balance of power in southern Africa, weakening apartheid’s military reach and opening the door to democracy.

Lessons Beyond History

In South Africa today, as we confront crises of inequality, corruption and the erosion of public trust, remembering Cuba’s sacrifices is not simply an act of nostalgia. It is a reminder that international solidarity and principled struggle can change the course of history. The Battle of Cuito Cuanavale in 1988, where Cuban forces fought alongside Angolan and Namibian allies, is often cited as a turning point. Nelson Mandela himself acknowledged that Cuba’s role helped make possible the negotiations that eventually dismantled apartheid. This is a debt written into our democratic DNA.

Yet the relevance of Cuba’s example goes beyond history. South Africa’s own challenges — from the collapse of public health systems to the crisis in education and policing — demand a politics of principle rather than expediency. Cuba, despite its economic hardships, has invested heavily in universal healthcare and education. South Africa, with far greater resources, has allowed inequality to deepen. The Cuban model is not perfect, but it reminds us that political will can prioritise the needs of the poor even under difficult circumstances.

A Living Solidarity

There is also a cultural debt. Cuban doctors, engineers and teachers have worked in South Africa since the 1990s, strengthening our health system and sharing skills. Thousands of South African students have studied medicine in Cuba, returning to serve in rural clinics where our own institutions have failed to train enough professionals. This exchange has saved lives and built bridges. It is a living testament to solidarity, not just a historical memory.

But solidarity is not one‑sided. South Africa must ask what it offers Cuba in return. Too often, our gratitude has been rhetorical, not material. As Cuba struggles under renewed sanctions and economic hardship, South Africa could do more to support its people — through trade, cultural exchange and diplomatic advocacy. To honour our debt is to act, not just to remember.

A Call to Principle

Of course, Cuba is not without flaws. Its political system has been criticised for limiting freedoms, and its economy has struggled. But to focus only on these shortcomings is to miss the larger lesson: that Cuba chose principle over profit, solidarity over self‑interest. In South Africa, where corruption and self‑enrichment have hollowed out the state, this lesson is urgent. We need leaders who act with the moral clarity that Cuba demonstrated in the darkest days of apartheid.

As we approach the thirtieth anniversary of democracy, South Africa must reflect on the debts it owes — not just to Cuba, but to all who stood with us. Gratitude must be more than ceremonial. It must shape our policies, our alliances and our values. To honour Cuba is to recommit ourselves to the ideals of justice, equality and solidarity that animated our liberation struggle.

In the end, the Cuban people remind us that history is made not only by the powerful but by those who act with conviction. South Africa’s debt to Cuba is not just historical; it is a living call to integrity in our politics and compassion in our society. To forget this debt is to forget ourselves.

 TQ

Professor Richard Pithouse is an Associate Professor at the Wits Institute for Social and Economic Research (WISER) at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. He is also a journalist, editor and activist. This is a shortened version of the column that appeared in Substack website. To read more of Pithouse's columns and stories, please visit https://richardpithouse.substack.com