A commemorative event marking the 65th anniversary of the 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion took place today, 17 April 2026, at the Castle of Good Hope in Cape Town, with organisers drawing parallels between Cuba’s historic military victory and what they described as renewed global struggles against imperialism, including ongoing United States pressure on the island.
Image: Yuri Cortez / AFP
A commemorative event marking the 65th anniversary of the 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion took place n Friday April 17, at the Castle of Good Hope in Cape Town, with organisers drawing parallels between Cuba’s historic military victory and what they described as renewed global struggles against imperialism, including ongoing United States pressure on the island.
Hosted by the Castle Control Board, the event reflected on the failed CIA-backed invasion in April 1961, when Cuban exile forces attempted to overthrow Fidel Castro’s government but were defeated within days by Cuban troops in what organisers described as a defining moment of resistance against foreign intervention.
Against that historical backdrop, speakers linked the commemoration to Cuba’s current socio-economic challenges, which have intensified in recent months amid tightened US sanctions and restrictions widely described by critics as an economic blockade. The measures have been associated with worsening fuel shortages, electricity disruptions and broader strain on basic services, contributing to a deepening humanitarian crisis on the island.
The situation has also prompted renewed international solidarity efforts, including humanitarian aid initiatives and public calls for an end to sanctions, with supporters arguing that ordinary Cubans are bearing the brunt of prolonged geopolitical tensions.
Castle Control Board CEO Calvyn Gilfellan said the commemoration was intended to draw lessons from history while reflecting on present-day global conflicts.
"In 1905 George Santayana told us that ‘Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it’, and what a truism if we look at what is happening in Cuba, Venezuela, Gaza, Iran, Ukraine and on our very doorstep," Gilfellan said.
"Today, more than at any point in our history, peace-loving people of the world are subjected to some of the worst forms of oppression, subjugation, persecution, bigotry, tyranny, and brutal warfare."
He said the continued pressure on Cuba must be understood in the context of decades of sanctions and political isolation.
"After 65 years of American boycotts, sanctions, disruptions and interference, Cuba, like Palestine, is today facing an existential crisis. As South Africans, we have a moral and revolutionary obligation to engage in solidarity actions to assist and in a sense repay the very people who helped us to defeat the apartheid army in the renowned Battle of Cuito Cuanavale."
Gilfellan added that the event also aimed to encourage broader reflection on global struggles.
"The Bay of Pigs remembrance event at the Castle of Good Hope highlights an important message: that we must never give up and stand in solidarity with our counterparts across the globe. Colonialism, imperialism, and injustice is still rife amongst us and it is crucial for us to remain aware of what is happening right in front of us."
He said the event was attended by about 50 people, including anti-apartheid activists, and featured contributions from Tony Ehrenreich, Marius Fransman, Jerimia Thuynsma, Professor Yusuf Chikte and Igshaan Higgins.
"Let the Bay of Pigs be a reminder that we need to stand up and stand together against imperialist powers and the threat to sovereignty across the Global South," Gilfellan said.
The programme included a documentary screening, a roundtable discussion and an open debate session focused on historical memory and contemporary global politics.
lilita.gcwabe@inl.co.za