- Title: Nelson Madela foundation remembers Fidel Castro
- Date: 26th November 2016
- Summary: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA (NOVEMBER 26, 2016) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF NELSON MANDELA FOUNDATION NELSON MANDELA FOUNDATION CHIEF EXECUTIVE, SELLO HATANG, SEATED HATANG SEATED / PHOTO OF MANDELA WITH CASTRO IN BACKGROUND HATANG USING PHONE (SOUNDBITE) (English) NELSON MANDELA FOUNDATION CHIEF EXECUTIVE, SELLO HATANG, SAYING: "To the people of Cuba your pain is ours. Fidel Castro belonged to you as much as he belonged to us and we all believe that… we all know that at some point one has to transition to the other world. And I think in his case he is a proud man, having helped many struggles around the world to achieve freedom." VARIOUS OF STATUE OF MANDELA OUTSIDE FOUNDATION
- Embargoed: 11th December 2016 10:07
- Keywords: Fidel Castro death south africa mandela foundation reaction
- Location: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA
- City: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA
- Country: South Africa
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0015A2YCZR
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: The CEO of the Nelson Mandela Foundation remembered on Saturday (November 26) Fidel Castro's contribution towards the fight against apartheid, after the Cuban revolutionary leader died at the age of 90 on Friday (November 25).
"To the people of Cuba your pain is ours. Fidel Castro belonged to you as much as he belonged to us," Sello Hatang said, calling Castro a "proud man" who had helped "many struggles around the world to achieve freedom".
A towering figure of the second half of the 20th Century, Castro stayed true to his ideology beyond the collapse of Soviet communism, and retained an aura in parts of the world that had struggled against colonial rule and exploitation.
Castro was a leading voice against apartheid when some other world leaders were reluctant to speak out.
After Nelson Mandela was freed from prison in 1990, he repeatedly thanked Castro for his firm efforts to weaken apartheid - a conflict that included Cuban troops who fought and died in southern Angola.
The bearded Fidel Castro took power in a 1959 revolution and ruled Cuba for 49 years with a mix of charisma and iron will, creating a one-party state and becoming a central figure in the Cold War.
He was demonised by the United States and its allies but admired by many leftists around the world, especially socialist revolutionaries in Latin America and Africa.
The Cuban leader had been in poor health since an intestinal ailment nearly killed him in 2006. He formally ceded power to his younger brother two years later. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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