Cuban celebrations

THE Embassy of Cuba in South Africa has organised a series of activities to celebrate the centenary of the birth of Nelson Mandela with the South African people.

All interested people are invited to attend.

For Cubans, Nelson Mandela is a symbol of the special bonds that unite Cuba and South Africa.

Upon learning of Madiba’s death, our historic leader Fidel Castro said about his brother:

“Nelson Mandela will not go down in history for the 27 consecutive years he spent in prison, without ever renouncing his ideas; he will be remembered because he was capable of cleaning up his heart and soul from all the venom that such unfair punishment can accumulate; (and) for his generosity and the wisdom he showed in brilliantly leading his selfless and heroic people when the time of victory could no longer be contained, deeply convinced that South Africa could not be built on hatred and revenge…

“It is a fact that Mandela was an upright man, a profound revolutionary and a radical socialist who endured with great stoicism 27 years of solitary confinement.

“I could not but admire his honesty, modesty and enormous merit.”

The celebrations will begin with a concert by the Cuban women’s choir, Ensemble Vocal Luna, at St George’s Cathedral in Cape Town, on Sunday, July 15 at 3pm. Cuban Embassy in South Africa