South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola received his Cuban counterpart, Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, in Pretoria for a high-level bilateral meeting. The aim of the meeting was to strengthen the long-term strategic partnership between South Africa and Cuba and to promote deeper cooperation in various sectors.
The meeting was a follow-up to the fruitful discussions held by the two ministers on the occasion of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly. The bilateral talks reaffirmed the deep cultural, historical and political ties between South Africa and Cuba, rooted in common struggles, international solidarity and a shared commitment to the development agenda of the Global South.
Minister Lamola highlighted the significance of Cuba's recent admission as a partner country of the BRICS+ bloc in January 2025, describing it as an important milestone for South-South cooperation. "BRICS cooperation provides opportunities for solidarity and cooperation among countries of the Global South," Lamola said. The two countries committed to developing mechanisms for exchanging capabilities and best practices in critical sectors, including agriculture, biotechnology, defence, education, health, infrastructure development and engineering. They also agreed to turn their deep-rooted political and historical relations into stronger trade and economic ties.
During his visit, Minister Rodríguez commemorated South Africa's liberation struggle with a visit to Freedom Park in Pretoria. He laid a wreath at the Wall of Names in honour of those who fought against apartheid and colonial oppression. His visit underlined Cuba's unwavering support for the South African liberation movement, which dates back to the time when it made a significant contribution to the defeat of apartheid and colonialism.
Minister Rodríguez also engaged in talks with the South African Communist Party (SACP) and the Society of Friends of Cuba, further strengthening the ideological and solidarity relationship between the two nations. Both groups have been vocal in their support for Cuba, particularly in calling for an end to the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States and for Cuba to be removed from the list of states allegedly sponsoring terrorism. Minister Rodríguez expressed gratitude for South Africa's firm stance on these issues and stressed the need for global unity against economic sanctions that disproportionately affect developing countries.
The long-term bilateral cooperation between South Africa and Cuba is multifaceted and includes a number of agreements in key areas such as health, public works, education and water and sanitation. The foreign policies of the two countries are closely linked and advocate peaceful conflict resolution, multilateralism, respect for international law and the central role of the UN in maintaining global peace and security.
Minister Rodríguez's visit to South Africa was part of a wider African tour that included stops in Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Ghana and Senegal. His engagement across the continent reflects Cuba's deepening commitment to strengthening ties with African countries and promoting solidarity among countries of the global South.
Anisha Pemjee
TDS/ gnews.cz - RoZ
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