President Zuma Joins Leaders in Cuba for Fidel Castro’s Funeral

South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma has travelled to Havana, Cuba to attend the funeral of the late former President of Cuba, Fidel Castro Ruz, who passed away on Friday at age 90. Zuma joins several leaders from around the world… although neither America’s President Obama nor Russian President Vladimir Putin will be present.

President Zuma ordered that the National Flag be flown at half-mast at all stations in South Africa today, 29 November 2016. The National Flag is flying at half-mast in the South African mission in Cuba until 4 December.

Condolence books have been placed at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, Tuynhuys in Cape Town and at the offices of the Premiers throughout the country.

Funeral arrangements include a large gathering today (Tuesday) in Havana’s Plaza de la Revolucion – after which Castro’s ashes will travel almost 900km down the island for another gathering on Saturday at Plaza Antonio Maceo in Santiago de Cuba. This journey retraces the ‘Caravan of Freedom’ in reverse when Castro took power in 1959. The burial will take place on Sunday at Santa Ifigenia cemetery. 

The Presidency said that the late President Castro not only identified with the struggle against apartheid, but also inspired the Cuban people to join South Africans in that struggle.

After South Africa gained freedom in 1994, Cuba and South Africa, under President Castro and President Nelson Mandela respectively, formed a strong bond of solidarity and friendship.

President Zuma has reiterated that the people of South Africa share the loss of the Cuban people and stand with them in this time of grief and mourning.

The ANC will hold Memorial Services in honour of Castro in Gauteng and the Western Cape tomorrow (Wednesday).

The ANC said Castro was a great friend and ally and that “during the exile days, Cuba opened the doors of its schools and universities for the education of many South Africans and their children who were in the liberation movement.

“Even today, Cuba continues to support our struggle for the reconstruction and development of our country. There are many Cuban doctors that are serving in our hospitals and clinics, often in the most remote areas of our country.

“In addition, there are 3,000 South African student doctors who are currently studying in Cuba and this is twice the number of doctors that we graduate in South Africa every year.”

The response to the ANC’s celebration of Castro’s life has been met with mixed response from South Africans (just like the response in Cuba itself to the passing of their leader) – some seeing Castro as a hero, others as a villain.

Award-winning poet, Athol Williams, perhaps summed it up best when he said: “After a day of debating Castro’s legacy I draw the following conclusion… Those on the side of the imperialist oppressor will always seek to discredit the liberator. We should not be surprised to see that it is only those who have suffered or fought against oppression, and who seek true universal freedom, who celebrate the liberator, even with all his imperfections for it is only the blind who see no fault in themselves…”

One thing is indisputable. Fidel Castro felt a special connection to South Africa. When he flew from Cuba to South Africa to attend Nelson Mandela’s inauguration, he described his speech as a “love letter” that you send to a “sweetheart thousands of miles away”.

Sources: FB, SANews, ANC

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