Cuban 5 touched by Madiba magic on Robben Island

24 June 2015 - 02:36 By Aphiwe Deklerk

Visiting Nelson Mandela's prison cell on Robben Island was like meeting the late statesman in person for the Cuban Five. The Cubans, who spent 16 years in a US prison on charges of espionage, are touring South Africa, and yesterday they visited parliament as well as the island where Mandela and many other political prisoners were held.This is their first overseas trip following their release in December, which is seen as a direct result of President Barack Obama's attempt to improve relations with the US's southern neighbour.Obama's olive branch towards Cuba came to the fore at Mandela's memorial service at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg on December 10, 2013, when he reached out to greet Cuba's President Raul Castro."We can feel the presence of Nelson Mandela especially when we visited his prison cell. for us it's like meeting Nelson Mandela in person, it's an experience of a lifetime," said Ramon Labañino, one of the five.In a message they wrote in the visitors' book, they hailed ANC struggle heroes as a source of inspiration for them while they were behind bars."We thank South Africa's brave patriots for their legacy and example, which the Cuban Five will honour for the rest of our lives," it read.Labañino and his compatriots - Gerardo Hernandez, Fernando Gonzalez, Antonio Guerrero and René Gonzalez - have received a heroes' welcome from the government.Former prisoners Ahmed Kathrada and Ebrahim Ebrahim showed them round Robben Island...

There’s never been a more important time to support independent media.

From World War 1 to present-day cosmopolitan South Africa and beyond, the Sunday Times has been a pillar in covering the stories that matter to you.

For just R80 you can become a premium member (digital access) and support a publication that has played an important political and social role in South Africa for over a century of Sundays. You can cancel anytime.

Already subscribed? Sign in below.



Questions or problems? Email helpdesk@timeslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00.