During the encounter, both ratified the excellent state of bilateral relations between the two countries, highlighting the historic and fraternal ties which unite South Africa and Cuba. They also expressed mutual interest in strengthening and diversifying economic and trade relations and discussed a range of issues on the international agenda.

The distinguished visitor was accompanied by deputy ministers of International Relations and Cooperation; Basic Education; Heath; Natural Resources; Water and Sanitation; Planning, MonitoringandEvaluation and Trade and Industry, among other members of the delegation.

Participating on the Cuban side were Rogelio Sierra Díaz, deputy minister of Foreign Relations and Ángel Villa Hernández the Foreign Ministry’s director for Sub-Saharan Africa.

(Granma)

Ramaphosa who arrived on the island October 22, on an official visit to the country, inaugurated the Cuba-South Africa business forum.

He stated that “the encounter will contribute to broadening relations across areas of mutual benefit, as well as uncovering new spheres with the potential to improve the lives of our peoples.”

He also noted that the forum is an ideal occasion in which “to strengthen ties and expand relations in collaboration and trade,” adding that “Cuba is a good place to do business” and emphasized the potential for investment in both countries.

The Vice President also noted that no other country has contributed more to Africa than Cuba, and that for this reason South Africa will continue demanding the lifting of the U.S. blockade imposed on the island for over half a century.

According to the Vice President of Cuba’s Chamber of Commerce, Odalis Seijo, the forum is “a display of South African business people’s confidence.” Seijo also gave details on the next encounter which will take place during the Havana International Trade Fair next month.

(Granma)

We want the blockade to be eliminated, Ramaphosa told exclusively Prensa Latina at the end of a meeting with the Cuban Council of State’ Vice President Salvador Valdes who is on an official visit until today in South Africa, where he is attending the 25th African Union (AU) Summit.

The South African vice president said that talking with Valdes in the context of the AU Summit was a pleasure, ”which was used to link Cuba much more with Africa.”

He also stated that they are working for a successful visit to South Africa of the five Cuban counter-terrorist fighters, invited to the African National Congress (ANC) from June 21 to July 3.

”We support the five Cuban heroes,” stressed Ramaphosa summaring his country’s contribution to the international campaign for the release of Gerardo Hernandez, Ramon Labañino, Antonio Guerrero, Fernando Gonzalez and Rene Gonzalez.

During the fraternal exchange both leaders held yesterday, they reinforced the historic ties that join Cuba and South Africa.

Valdes thanked the attention and hospitality given here and conveyed greetings from the the country’s top authorities.

He also explained the bilateral project and stressed that the exchanges with different South African authorities allowed him monitoring cooperation programs.

The Council of State vice president passed on Ramaphosa the gratitude to South Africa for its unconditional support in the struggle against the blockade and for the release of the Cuban coutner-terrorist fighters.

Valdes arrived in South Africa on June 12 on an official visit to attend the top-level segment of the AU Summit.

Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Ana Teresita Gonzalez, the official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Meylin Suarez, and Cuban Ambassadors to Ethiopia and South Africa, Juan Manuel Rodriguez and Carlos Fernandez de Cossio, respectively, came along with Valdes.

More than 40 heads of State and Government of Africa attended the 25th Summit at the Conference Center in Sandton, in Johannesburg.

(Prensa Latina)

Valdes arrived here on Friday leading Cuba’s delegation to the 25th African Union (AU) Summit, whose high-level segment will be held on June 14-15 at the Conference Center in Sandton, Johannesburg.

The Origins Center, in the University of the Witwatrersand, in Johannesburg, holds the history and anthropology of living cultures in this country, internationally recognized as the Rainbow Nation.

According to the Cuban delegation’s schedule, to which Prensa Latina had access, Valdes will meet with Jessie Duarte, general assistant secretary of the African National Congress (ANC), and with Cuban collaborators in South Africa.

Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Ana Teresita Gonzalez, Meylin Suarez, an official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Cuban Ambassadors to Ethiopia and South Africa, Juan Manuel Rodriguez and Carlos Fernandez de Cossio, respectively, are also members of the delegation.

After arriving yesterday, the first official activity of the Council of State vice president was to pay tribute to South African communist leader Chris Hani at the memorial built in South Park Cemetery.

(Prensa Latina)

The Cuban delegation also includes Ana Teresita González Fraga, vice minister of Foreign Affairs; Juan Manuel Rodríguez Vázquez and Carlos Fernández de Cossío Domínguez, Cuban ambassadors to the African Union and South Africa, respectively; as well as other Foreign Ministry officials.

(Granma)

President Jacob Zuma said in a communiqué to have informed Mandela in a recent meeting that “as always, all South Africans are waiting for July 18 to wish him a happy birthday in all possible ways.”

Zuma expressed his satisfaction for having wished a happy birthday to “Madiba” in advance on that occasion.

The South African president had lunch with Mandela last Wednesday and said he is “in very god health”.

Activities to celebrate Mandelaâ Ös birthday include thousands of school students who will sang “Happy Birthday Madiba” in chorus at 08:00 local time (06:00 GMT).

Since 2009, the United Nations Organization declared July 18 as “Mandelaâ Ös Day”, with a call to devote one minute to help others for each and every of the 67 years of struggle of Mandela.

Local media are publishing details of Mandelaâ Ös life and work, as well as interviews with people close to him, like Zelda la Grange, his former private secretary, who now describes him as “fit” and “pampered by his family and doctors.”

p>South Africa has denied sending a plane to allow embattled Colonel Muammar Gaddafi to leave Libya, as it pledges to make a contribution to the rebuilding of that country.

“The South African government would like to refute and dispel the rumours and claims that it has sent planes to Libya to fly Colonel Gaddafi and his family to an undisclosed location,” International Relations Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane told reporters.

She did confirm, however, that a plane was on stand-by in Tunisia to rescue South Africans and embassy staff trapped in the conflict-riddled Libya, BUA News reports.

South Africa has put forward its position on the troubling issue as news broke of rebels taking control of Tripoli.

The South African information service has quoted media reports indicating that an insurgent spokesperson had said the anti-Gaddafi forces now control over 95 percent of Tripoli, including the Libyan state radio building.

But Gaddafi, who had remained defiant, BUA News says, earlier had made two audio addresses over state television calling on Libyans to fight off the rebels.

The South African Government has said it will support the will of the people of Libya.

A Foreign Ministry statements reads that “with the imminent fall of the government of Colonel Gaddafi, we wish to urge the interim authority in Tripoli to immediately institute an all-inclusive inter-Libyan political dialogue aimed at building a truly representative and people-centred dispensation.”

President Jacob Zuma is part of the African Union special mission to end the conflict in Libya and has visited that country twice.

(Prensa Latina)