Question NW459 to the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans
22 March 2022 - NW459
Marais, Mr S to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans
(1) Whether, with reference to the approximately 250 members of the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) who were flown to Cuba for training at the end of August 2021, she has found that the training offered in Cuba is the best and most cost-effective training available, given the budgetary constraints and similar training opportunities available in the United Kingdom, Sweden, United States of America and the Republic's BRICS partners; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) whether she has found that this was the best possible training available to equip the next generation of SANDF pilots and Defence force leaders; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
(1.) From the SANDF appreciation with specific reference to medical expertise and their ongoing assistance to the Department of Health, Cuba was the obvious choice to train and qualify medical specialists. Through Project Thusano, the Cubans also demonstrated their skills and knowledge in terms of the maintenance and repair of various technical capabilities. Cuba was the only country that has opened its training opportunities in bigger numbers to the SANDF and that could tailor make training programmes according to the SANDF's unique training requirements which is the most cost-effective way to train and qualify large numbers of military personnel.
(2) Based on the above motivation, the training provided to the SANDF by Cuba is currently the best possible training intervention available based on the unique SANDF training requirements.