The legacy of a leader
For decades, Canadian civil society took part in protests against the white, racist apartheid government of South Africa. This included a creative conferring of honorary degrees for incarcerated African National Congress members on Johnston Green at the University of Guelph by the late professor William D. Graf and other members of the Guelph community in 1986.
However, Canada’s significant sanctions efforts to curtail apartheid were slow in coming, were weaker than those of the U.S., and were still weak enough to allow an excess of $100 million a year of imports from apartheid South Africa over the seven year sanctions period from 1986 to 1993.
In contrast, Fidel Castro set aside economic and political expediency and championed Cuba’s right and duty to uphold nationalist, revolutionary movements and governments in the Third World, especially those in struggle against apartheid South Africa—“the most beautiful cause,” as Castro called it.
It was voluntary Cuban internationalists who helped Angolans resist invading racist South African forces. Jeopardizing relations with both the West and a detente-seeking U.S.S.R., as well as shunning national self-interest, Cubans “did wonders for Angola’s education and health services” with over 40,000 aid workers serving in Angola alone, according to the late British diplomat Marrack Goulding.
Castro, who epitomized the ethos of Cuban assistance, was described by his U.S. nemesis, Henry Kissinger, in his memoir as “probably the most genuine revolutionary leader then in power”.
Additionally, Castro, who Nelson Mandela promptly visited upon his release from South African prison, was praised by Mandela for the Cuban victory. In a 1991 public address, Mandela said, “The decisive defeat of the aggressive apartheid forces destroyed the myth of the invincibility of the white oppressor [and] inspired the fighting masses of South Africa.”
Let’s grow the most beautiful cause, Castro’s legacy, and adhere to the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation report by dismantling the apartheid on our continent, Turtle Island.
– Dan Maitland