PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
South Africa: South African heavyweights salute Castro
Cape Town, South Africa (PANA) – President Jacob Zuma and other prominent South Africans have paid tribute to former Cuban leader Fidel Castro who died on Friday after a long illness. He was 90.
The two countries formed a strong bond of friendship after South Africa's own liberation in 1994. Castro and Nelson Mandela enjoyed a close relationship. Mandela visited Cuba in 1991 and Castro addressed a joint sitting of Parliament in Cape Town in 1998.
Zuma said Castro identified with and helped South Africa in the struggle against apartheid. ''He inspired the Cuban people to join us in our own struggle against apartheid. The Cuban people, under the leadership and command of President Castro, joined us in our struggle against apartheid," he said.
"As a way of paying homage to the memory of President Castro, the strong bonds of solidarity, cooperation and friendship that exist between South Africa and Cuba must be maintained and nurtured," he added.
International Relations spokesperson Clayson Monyela confirmed that Zuma had called Castro's brother Raul and “we are standing with the people of Cuba at this difficult time”.
The Nelson Mandela Foundation expressed its deepest condolences, saying former president Mandela and Castro were known to be so close that those who criticised Mandela's relationship with Cuba and Libya were told to "jump in the pool”.
It quoted Mandela discussing Cuba in a documentary in 1990. "The first country we approached was the United States of America. We could not even succeed to come close to the government, and they refused to assist us," Mandela had said.
"But Cuba, the moment we appealed for assistance they were ready to do so and they did so," he said. "Why would we now listen to the Western world when they say we should have nothing to do with Cuba? It is just unreasonable."
The opposition Economic Freedom Fighters said they had drawn inspiration from him. "We send our revolutionary condolences to the family and close friends as well as the people of Cuba as a whole," it said in a statement.
South Africa's Ministry of Health said it was grateful to Castro and to the people of Cuba for the continued support they provide to South Africa in the medical field.
"The Cuba-SA agreement on health entered between Tata Nelson Mandela and Fidel Castro is a strong bond which we believe will continue to bear fruits," the ministry said. "Cuba is training our medical students and sent her citizens to practice medicine in our country. For that we are eternally grateful," said spokesperson Joe Maila.
-0- PANA CU/MA 26Nov2016
The two countries formed a strong bond of friendship after South Africa's own liberation in 1994. Castro and Nelson Mandela enjoyed a close relationship. Mandela visited Cuba in 1991 and Castro addressed a joint sitting of Parliament in Cape Town in 1998.
Zuma said Castro identified with and helped South Africa in the struggle against apartheid. ''He inspired the Cuban people to join us in our own struggle against apartheid. The Cuban people, under the leadership and command of President Castro, joined us in our struggle against apartheid," he said.
"As a way of paying homage to the memory of President Castro, the strong bonds of solidarity, cooperation and friendship that exist between South Africa and Cuba must be maintained and nurtured," he added.
International Relations spokesperson Clayson Monyela confirmed that Zuma had called Castro's brother Raul and “we are standing with the people of Cuba at this difficult time”.
The Nelson Mandela Foundation expressed its deepest condolences, saying former president Mandela and Castro were known to be so close that those who criticised Mandela's relationship with Cuba and Libya were told to "jump in the pool”.
It quoted Mandela discussing Cuba in a documentary in 1990. "The first country we approached was the United States of America. We could not even succeed to come close to the government, and they refused to assist us," Mandela had said.
"But Cuba, the moment we appealed for assistance they were ready to do so and they did so," he said. "Why would we now listen to the Western world when they say we should have nothing to do with Cuba? It is just unreasonable."
The opposition Economic Freedom Fighters said they had drawn inspiration from him. "We send our revolutionary condolences to the family and close friends as well as the people of Cuba as a whole," it said in a statement.
South Africa's Ministry of Health said it was grateful to Castro and to the people of Cuba for the continued support they provide to South Africa in the medical field.
"The Cuba-SA agreement on health entered between Tata Nelson Mandela and Fidel Castro is a strong bond which we believe will continue to bear fruits," the ministry said. "Cuba is training our medical students and sent her citizens to practice medicine in our country. For that we are eternally grateful," said spokesperson Joe Maila.
-0- PANA CU/MA 26Nov2016
