The Cuban Five visit Robben Island
Antiapartheid struggle veteran Ahmed Kathrada hosted the Cuban Five on a tour of Robben Island yesterday after they first visited parliament in Cape Town.
The five former Cuban intelligence officers – Gerardo Hernandez, Antonio Guerrero, Ramon Labanino, Fernando Gonzalez, and Rene Gonzalez – were given a heroes’ welcome by the Tripartite Alliance when they arrived in South Africa on Sunday.
Zaakirah Vadi, communications officer at the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, said in a statement the tour to Robben Island formed part of the group’s visit to South Africa, following their release from imprisonment in the US.
The five were arrested in the US in 1998 on espionage charges. One of the Cuban Five was released in 2011, one in February 2014 and the remaining three in December 2014.
Their release followed an agreement between US President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro to improve the relationship between the two countries.
Vadi said although Kathrada had taken about 300 guests to Robben Island, it was a particular honour to be hosting the Cubans.
“The Cuban Five spent some 16 years in prison. I think that the visit to Robben Island will be of great significance to them. However, I look forward to hearing their stories as well,” he said.
Kathrada praised Cuba’s support for the South African liberation struggle and said three of the five fought against the apartheid forces in Angola.
The Cuban Five are campaigning for the lifting of the US trade embargo on the Caribbean nation. – Citizen reporter and ANA