Cape Town, 18 September 2026. — On CapeTalk, the leading news and current affairs radio station in the Western Cape province, the Cuban Ambassador, Fakri Rodríguez Pinelo, spoke directly to listeners about the current situation in Cuba, the real causes of the difficulties facing the Cuban people and the role of in
During the interview on the programme “Views and News” with the renowned journalist Clarence Ford, the Cuban diplomat explained that the shortages currently experienced by the population in areas such as food, medicines, fuel and access to technology are direct consequences of a policy of collective punishment devised by the US to stifle the Cuban economy and provoke social unrest. He emphasised that the blockade is the main obstacle to Cuba’s development and constitutes a flagrant violation of international law and the principles of the United Nations Charter.
Ambassador Rodríguez Pinelo also referred to the forthcoming vote in the United Nations General Assembly on the resolution calling for an end to the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the US against the Cuban people.
He highlighted South Africa’s historic role as a strategic ally of Cuba and praised the principled foreign policy of the South African Government, which has maintained a firm stance in rejecting unilateral coercive measures and in defending the right of all peoples to self-determination and development free from external interference.
The Cuban Embassy would like to thank Cape Talk and the team behind the ‘Views and News’ programme for opening their microphones to this important conversation, which enabled thousands of listeners to gain a first-hand insight into the reality of life in Cuba.
(Cuban Embassy in South Africa)