Issued by: The Department of Foreign Affairs
MEDIA STATEMENT ON THE STATE VISIT BY PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO TO SOUTH AFRICA, 4-5 SEPTEMBER 1998
President Fidel Castro Ruz of the Republic of Cuba will pay a State Visit to South Africa upon invitation of President Nelson Mandela from 4-5 September 1998. President Castro will be accompanied by Foreign Minister Roberto Robaina Gonzalez and a delegation of officials and journalists.
President Castro will be received in Cape Town by President Mandela on 4 September 1998. He will hold talks with President Mandela and Deputy President Thabo Mbeki on national and regional developments, as well as on multilateral issues of mutual concern to South Africa and Cuba. Together with President Mandela, he will attend the signing of a Air Services Agreement between South Africa and Cuba in Tuynhuys.
President Castro will address Parliament on 4 September 1998. He will then visit Robben Island. The President will also travel to Gauteng to meet members of the South African Cuban Community and Cuban doctors working in South Africa. He will also meet leaders of opposition parties in South Africa.
Several cooperation agreements are already in existence between South Africa and Cuba - especially in the fields of health and education. Currently 400 Cuban doctors work in South Africa.
Three Cuban sports trainers are in South Africa under an agreement between the two National Olympic Organisations. 43 South African medical students are studying in Cuba and a further 30 are due to depart for Cuba in September 1998. There are also 10 Cuban medical professors lecturing at the University of the Transkei.
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS 26 AUGUST 1998 PRETORIA