Partisan politics, Cubans are an important demographic in Florida. Maybe some autistic need to do the exact shit forever in the State Department. Some sanctions were lifted under Obama but the net benefit for the average Cuban was minimal and Trump put sanctions back on.What is the rationale to still keep the sanctions against Cuba in place for the US?
At this point it's mostly academic as the Cuban state has started cracking down on their little experiment with capitalism by allowing some small businesses.
Cuba's power system was built by the Soviets to take oil as gibs. It's a much more expensive way to produce electricity today and Cuba has dismal foreign currency reserves to buy it in. Nevermind an economy lacking in high value exports to bring it in. Both Russia and China could have ameliorated this already. Venezuela could have helped if they could figure out how to run their oil sector.On the other hand, South Africa doesn't have to deal with the degree of sanctions Cuba's been under for the past 50+ years. I would expect China and Russia will be able to provide them with the necessary replacement equipment and the technical know-how to solve the grid's problem just to spite the United States.
In the end, propping up an entire economy for the sake of radio receiver is bad deal making. China will provide guarantees to the leaders of Cuba, not economic assistance to a money pit.