OREANDA-NEWS. Cuba’s revolutionary leader and global icon Fidel Castro has died at the age of 90, his brother and President Raul Castro announced on state television. This marks the end of an era for Cuba and Latin America.

“The commander-in-chief of the Cuban revolution died at 10.29pm tonight,” Raul said.

World leaders reacted to the news with condolences and tributes.

Russian President Vladimir Putin praised Castro as the ‘symbol of an era’.

“The name of this remarkable statesman is rightfully viewed as a symbol of a whole era in modern history… Free and independent Cuba built by him and his fellow revolutionaries has become an influential member of the international community and serves as an inspiring example for many countries and peoples,” Putin said in a message to President Raul Castro on Saturday.

South African President Jacob Zuma said Fidel Castro had “dedicated his entire life not only to the freedom of the Cuban people but also the freedom of other oppressed people around the world”.

“President Castro identified with our struggle against apartheid,” Zuma said in a statement.

Pretoria will “pay homage to the memory of President Castro” by “maintaining and nurturing the strong bonds of solidarity and friendship” with Cuba, Zuma added.

President Castro had sent soldiers to Angola during the 1970s and 1980s to fight the apartheid South African military’s invasion in neighbouring Angola. This was a significant catalyst to the eventual ending of apartheid in South Africa.