Pretoria, May 27 (RHC)-- South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, thanked Cuba for its fundamental contribution in the fight against apartheid and its collaboration in different spheres.

During a meeting in Pretoria with the first vice president of the Councils of State and Ministers, Salvador Valdés Mesa, Ramaphosa highlighted in particular the work carried out by Cuban doctors in that Southern African nation.

Valdés Mesa, on the other hand, expressed the recognition for the support of South Africa to Cuba in its fight against the economic, commercial and financial blockade maintained by the United States against the island for almost 60 years.

Granma newspaper reports that the first Cuban Vice President also met with the Minister of the Presidency Nkosozana Dlamini Zuma and with leaders of the Communist Party of South Africa.

Ramaphosa is the fifth democratically elected president in South Africa since apartheid ended in 1994.

He took the oath of office at an inaugural ceremony at a stadium in Pretoria on Saturday.

The African National Congress (ANC) leader was elected earlier this month with a majority of 57.5 % of the votes.