The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) on Wednesday accused the Gauteng High Court of “prematurely” succumbing “to baseless and misinformed arguments” when it interdicted South Africa’s 50 million rand donation to Cuba.
On Tuesday, the high court granted AfriForum’s request for an urgent interdict to stop the South African government’s R50-million donation to Cuba.
Along with other Civil society organisations, AfriForum expressed outrage following the announcement of the donation by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco).
In a statement reacting to the court interdict, the EFF said “it was a verifiable fact of history that the people of Cuba have made the ultimate sacrifices for the liberation of Africa from the clutches of colonisalism”.
The EFF said the court, “prematurely succumbed to baseless and misinformed arguments by the racist lobby group known as AfriForum, which has categorised an intervention into the economic woes of a committed partner in the liberation struggle, as wasteful expenditure.”
Dirco contends that it is well within its rights to donate the money through its African Renaissance and International Cooperation Fund.
Supporting Dirco’s stance, the EFF said Cuba was “suffering the consequences of aligning with the struggle for independence of Africa through sanctions.”
The EFF added: “We must never abandon them when they need us most … The money which is set aside to be donated to Cuba is not towards politicians, it is to the people of Cuba, who sent their sons and daughters to Africa in our defence, who will receive our aid.”
The EFF said it will “join the opposition of the final review” in the matter.
The party led by Julius Malema said it has already instructed its lawyers.
“We will do this to directly oppose the attempt by racists to set aside the decision to donate money to Cuba, in order to stifle aid to our compatriots.”
