SA has given more than R740 million in foreign aid to Cuba and African countries over the past three years and the DA is now asking the government whether the money has been well spent.
International Relations and Co-operation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane told Parliament on Wednesday that the aid paid from the African Renaissance and International Co-operation Fund (ARF) included R300m for Zimbabwe’s “economic recovery plan” and R126m to help the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) undertake “successful” legislative and presidential elections last year.
The minister was replying to a question from Ian Davidson, the DA’s spokesman on international relations and co-operation. He said on Wednesday that he would ask her more questions to find out how the projects funded through the ARF were monitored and what measures were in place to ensure that the fund’s objectives were achieved through the funding.
Davidson said that according to the ARF Act, the fund’s aims are to enhance co-operation between the republic and other countries, in particular African countries; to promote democracy and good governance; to prevent and resolve conflict; and to enhance socio-economic development and integration, humanitarian assistance and human resource development.
“In May, the portfolio committee on trade and industry also approved a R350m economic assistance package to Cuba – to be funded through the ARF,” he said.
“Cuba has clearly become one of the chief recipients of South African aid. Our government is maintaining a very expensive friendship with Cuba and it is not immediately apparent how this massive investment in Cuba’s economic recovery will promote the objectives of the ARF.
“Given its proximity to South Africa and the potential upside of a prosperous Zimbabwe for regional stability and economic development in the SADC region, the R300m investment in Zimbabwe’s economy appears to be more sensible. We do, however, need more details on what exactly this R300m was spent on.
“Questions must also be raised around the R126m allocated to elections in the DRC. The contribution was most likely aimed at achieving the objective of promoting democracy and good governance. Most international observers, however, called the November presidential election in the DRC seriously flawed.
“The objectives of the ARF are admirable and as a member of the international community South Africa should certainly contribute to the socio-economic and political development of vulnerable countries.
“(The department) must, however, give us assurances that our R740m investment in international aid has been money well spent.”
FOREIGN EDITOR