The ANC’s continued admiration for former Cuban leader Fidel Castro has drawn fresh criticism following secretary-general Fikile Mbalula’s recent social media tribute commemorating Castro’s birthday. While the ANC credits Castro with supporting South Africa’s liberation struggle, his legacy in Africa remains controversial.
The ANC has long celebrated Cuba’s military role in Africa, particularly in Angola, where Cuban forces helped prop up the Soviet-backed MPLA government during the Cold War. However, critics point out that this intervention came at a high cost – including the suppression of Angolan rebels fighting against communist rule, with an estimated 20,000 deaths in 1977 alone.
Cubans also fought alongside Ethiopia’s Mengistu Haile Mariam, another Soviet-aligned dictator, in conflicts that claimed many African lives. While some view Cuba’s involvement as ideologically driven, records show Havana was financially compensated by both the USSR and Angola for its military deployments.
Though Cuban forces contributed to pressure on apartheid South Africa, they never achieved a direct military victory over the SADF. The ANC’s nostalgic view of Castro also overlooks his regime’s harsh internal repression, including the execution of his own Angola commander.
As South Africa moves further from its liberation struggle era, some argue it’s time to reassess historical alliances through a modern lens rather than Cold War-era narratives. The ANC’s ongoing veneration of Castro, critics suggest, reflects an outdated worldview at odds with today’s geopolitical realities.