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S. African president to attend Castro's funeral

Xinhua, November 29, 2016 Adjust font size:

South African President Jacob Zuma will travel to Havana, Cuba to attend the funeral of Cuba's late former President Fidel Castro, the Presidency announced on Monday.

Zuma has ordered that the South African national flag be flown at half-mast at all stations in South Africa on Tuesday.

The South African national flag will be flying at half-mast in the South African mission in Cuba until the 4th of December.

Castro passed away on November 25 at the age 90.

Zuma has once again conveyed a message of condolences to the government and people of Cuba, following the passing of Castro, the Presidency said.

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.

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.

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.

Also on Monday, the ruling African National Congress (ANC) said it will hold memorial services in Gauteng and the Western Cape Provinces in remembrance and honour of Castro.

"Castro was one of the greatest revolutionaries of our time, a great friend and ally of the ANC, the alliance, the broader national liberation movement and the people of South Africa as a whole," the ANC said in a statement.

Castro was with the South African people throughout the period of heightened repression by the apartheid regime and throughout the 30 year period of exile, underground armed struggle and international isolation of the apartheid regime, right from the victory of the Cuban revolution in 1959, said the ANC. Endit