Pretoria, 23 March 2026.—The 38th anniversary of the Battle of Cuito Cuanavale in Angola was commemorated on Monday at the historic Freedom Park.
The event was attended by South Africa’s Deputy Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Bertha Peace Mabe; the ANC’s First Deputy Secretary-General, Nomvula Mokonyane; the Chief of the SANDF, General Rudzani Maphwanya; Cuban collaborators and fellow countrymen living in the country.
The Cuban Ambassador to South Africa, Fakri Rodríguez, paid tribute to the more than 2,000 Cubans who fell in combat, whose names are inscribed on the Wall of Names at this iconic site.
The speakers highlighted the fundamental role played by Cuban fighters in Africa under the leadership of our eternal Commander-in-Chief, Fidel Castro. They called for continued solidarity and support for Cuba in the current circumstances of heightened threats from the US administration.
The victory in this battle changed the history of the region, forcing the apartheid regime to the negotiating table and facilitating, in one way or another, the independence of Namibia and South Africa and the stability of Angola.
(Cuban Embassy in South Africa)