In a major shift in its training strategy, the South African Air Force (SAAF) has officially terminated its agreement with Cuba for training cadets, citing incompatibility with local standards. This decision marks the end of a program that had seen numerous cadets travel to Cuba for training as part of Project Thusano.
Termination of the Training Program
SA National Defence Force (SANDF) Chief, General Rudzani Maphwanya, acknowledged the “excellent” quality of training provided in Cuba. He noted that the military would be better equipped for the changing nature of warfare thanks to this training. However, the program has been halted due to its incompatibility with South African standards.
Impact on Cadets
The last group of cadets who successfully completed their Cuban training and received their wings will now have to start their SAAF flight training from the beginning. This development has caused significant frustration among the cadets, who had been promised that they would receive their wings upon returning to South Africa and be promoted from candidate officers to lieutenants. This promotion would have led to their deployment to respective squadrons for continued integration flight training.
Currently, the group has been earning about R18,000 per month as candidate officers since 2021. They will continue to earn the same amount until they eventually complete their air force training.
Challenges Faced
The first group of cadets trained in Cuba encountered several issues upon their return. Training in Cuba was conducted on Russian or Eastern European-type aircraft, following a doctrine dramatically different from the Western aircraft and flight training standards of the SAAF. This mismatch meant that the pilots, airspace controllers, and technicians struggled to adapt to South African protocols.
The original group of pilots, who had completed approximately 65 flying hours in Cuba, were deployed to squadrons but did not receive their wings. They are now performing administrative work while awaiting further integration flight training at the Central Flying School at Langebaanweg.
Selection Process and Further Training
For the subsequent group in 2021, around 8,000 applications were received, with 250 candidates invited for selection. After psychometric and medical evaluations, 23 candidates were selected for final interviews, and only 15 received call-up instructions. Following basic and officers’ training in South Africa, only 12 cadets passed and proceeded to Cuba in early 2022. However, nine were sent back to South Africa after reportedly failing the Cuban selection test. Most of these cadets are still waiting to start their flight training due to financial constraints, which limit the number of students trained annually.
In March 2022, According to Defence and Military Veterans Minister Thandi Modise, Cuba is “the only country that opened its training opportunities in bigger numbers to the SA National Defence Force (SANDF)”.
Replying to questions from Kobus Marais, the Democratic Alliance (DA) shadow minister for her portfolio, she said as of August 2021, there were 105 SANDF personnel in Cuba. Thirty are enrolled in the Cuban equivalent of the South African Security and Defence Studies Programme (SDSP) and what in South Africa would be the Joint Senior Command and Staff Programme (JSCSP) with a further 75 doing “various vocational/cadet training”.
South African military personnel have been going to Cuba for training, ranging from medical to pupil pilots, since 2014. With the exception of 2020 when COVID-19 levels were such that travel was not advisable, South Africa has spent R359 million on Cuban training. The Ministerial response does not indicate if this spend includes the cost of flying to and from the Caribbean, which is given as R136.4 million for 32 flights using aircraft chartered from SAA since 2017.
Asked why Cuba for pilot training, Modise told Marais: “The SA Air Force (SAAF) faces shortages of reliable training aircraft and relies on FLOs (foreign learning opportunities) to keep up with the demand to have trained and skilled workforce in the aviation sphere”.
Incompatibility and Future Prospects
In Cuba, the cadets first underwent six months of Spanish language training before beginning ground training. They were trained on Russian Mi-17 helicopters and received their Cuban wings after completing 35 flying hours. Despite this, they did not receive their South African air force wings or any promotion upon returning home.
One senior air force officer highlighted that this group might be around 30 years old before finally qualifying as junior pilots. He noted that they have not completed advanced training in fighter jets, helicopters, or cargo aircraft lines, stating, “They will fly with a squadron for a year or three and then they will get a desk job somewhere as staff officers. The air force will simply not benefit at all from this entire Cuban excursion.”
Official Stance and Bilateral Relations
Military spokesperson Siphiwe Dlamini defended the training program, stating, “The training in Cuba is not a waste of time because foreign training produces highly qualified pilots due to their experience. It is in line with study opportunities in other countries that form part of the military’s strategy to develop its people. It also strengthens bilateral ties.”
General Maphwanya reiterated that while the Cuban training had its merits, the decision to stop the program was made to ensure that cadet training aligns with local standards and requirements.
South African and Cuban Military Relations
South African and Cuban military relations have a rich history rooted in their shared struggle against apartheid and colonialism. The collaboration between the two nations dates back to the late 20th century, particularly during the Angolan Civil War, where Cuban forces played a crucial role in supporting the Angolan government against South African military aggression.
Post-Apartheid Relations
Following the end of apartheid, South Africa and Cuba established formal diplomatic relations in 1994.
The two countries have since maintained strong ties, with Cuba continuing to support South Africa in various military and defense initiatives.
The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has benefited from Cuban training programs, although recent reports indicate that the SAAF has terminated its agreement with Cuba due to incompatibility with local standards.
Ongoing Collaboration
Despite the termination of the Cuban training program, South Africa and Cuba continue to collaborate on various defense and security initiatives.
The two nations share a commitment to regional stability and have worked together on peacekeeping missions in Africa
