South African National Defence Force (SANDF) officers attending staff courses in Cuba were allegedly pressured to make cash donations exceeding R15 000 each to assist needy Cubans. The claims involve 38 officers and have drawn sharp criticism from the South African National Defence Union (SANDU), which has called for a formal investigation.
Brigadier-General Mitch Ledwaba of the military’s personnel division reportedly addressed the group shortly after their arrival in Havana. He motivated the contributions by citing Cuba’s historical support for the ANC during the liberation struggle.
Rank-based contributions from living allowances
Ledwaba allegedly circulated a list on which officers had to enter their names and intended amounts. Although presented as voluntary, expected contributions followed rank: senior officers more than R15 000 each and junior officers more than R3 000.
The money was to come directly from the dollar advances provided for the officers’ living expenses during their year-long posting. No official documentation explained how the funds would be used or distributed. Contributors received only vague assurances of reimbursement by December.
Officers question legality and process
Several officers declined to participate. They raised doubts about whether the money would be returned and questioned the arrangement’s legal standing.
Their concerns grew because Brigadier-General Thembisile David Mpisane, the South African military attaché in Cuba, was absent from the meeting. Officers noted that prior guidance required his involvement or awareness for any action with potential diplomatic consequences.
The SANDF did not respond to queries when the information first became available.
SANDU demands Board of Inquiry
SANDU national secretary Pikkie Greeff described the situation as completely unacceptable. “Soldier salaries are not a slush fund,” he said.
He called for a Board of Inquiry under the Defence Act to establish who authorised the request, who collected the funds, what happened to the money, and why soldiers were asked to use their own allowances for a non-military project. If misconduct is found, those accountable must face consequences, Greeff stated.
The officers form part of ongoing SANDF training cooperation with Cuba, previously known as Project Thusano and later renamed.
I’m a writer, editor and software developer at Newsroom ZA.
I build things, break them (on purpose), then turn the chaos into clean, readable stories. You’ll usually find me bouncing between breaking news, politics and entertainment.