Pretoria, 2 September 2026 — As part of the Nelson Mandela–Fidel Castro Medical Training Programme, 18 young South Africans from different communities in the province of Gauteng, are set to depart for Cuba to become doctors.
Selected from a highly competitive pool of 2,480 applicants, these future doctors come from the five districts of Gauteng: Tshwane, Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni, Sedibeng and West Rand.
The programme continues to open doors for academically outstanding students from low-income households to realise their dream of becoming healthcare professionals.
Since the programme began, 463 students from Gauteng have graduated as doctors and are now serving in the province’s public healthcare facilities, helping to strengthen service delivery and improve access to quality care.
Upon completing their studies, they will join the 3,243 doctors who have already graduated from medical schools in Cuba.
Cuban officials from the Embassy in Pretoria participated in the farewell ceremony, where they reaffirmed the willingness of the Cuban government and people to welcome them, even amid the difficult circumstances facing the Cuban nation.
(Cuban Embassy in South Africa)