Johannesburg, February 24, 2023.- The ICAP delegation that is visiting South Africa, composed by its deputy president, Víctor Gaute López, and the chief director of Africa and the Middle East, Yahimí Rodríguez, held a large exchange, at the headquarters of the African National Congress (ANC), with senior leaders and representatives of the tripartite government alliance, as well as the organizations South African Student Congress (SASCO), the Youth League of the South African Communist Party (YCLSA), the Democratic Youth Progressive and the ANC Veterans League.
The South African delegation was headed by the ANC Secretary General, Fikile Mbalula, the General Secretary of the Communist Party of South Africa (SACP), Solly Mapaila and the Deputy Secretary General of the Congress of the South African Trades Union, Gerald Twala.
The fraternal meeting highlighted the excellent level of relations between the two countries and the common history shared by the Cuban and South African peoples. The ANC Secretary General recognized Cuba's participation in the struggles for the liberation of the region, which was decisive in achieving victory. The SACP General Secretary highlighted the importance of keeping history alive and recalled how the small Caribbean island contributed to the independence of the continent, with the physical presence of its sons, who fought alongside the African people.
For his part, the deputy president of ICAP thanked South Africa for the countless expressions of solidarity towards Cuba, especially in the fight against the blockade. In this regard, he commented on the negative effects of this policy on the Cuban people, as well as the inclusion of Cuba on the spurious list of countries that sponsor terrorism.
Gaute also called for the strengthening of solidarity ties between the two nations and for carrying out joint projects that favor exchange between our peoples in several fields.
After the meeting, a press conference was held where the tripartite alliance announced the intention to host the VII Continental Meeting of Solidarity with Cuba in South Africa in 2023, as tribute to the first event of this type, held in this African nation in 1995, with the leadership of Fidel Castro and Nelson Mandela.