Lindani Magade, the only medical student from the province to return home from Cuba after a hunger strike in February, has apologised for letting the government and community down.

Officials from the department of health in partnership with the Mnquma local municipality, organised an event in Butterworth yesterday aimed at encouraging the 22-year-old student who has decided to return to Cuba to finish his medical training, and said they still supported him.

Unconfirmed reports are that Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi has forgiven four of the six students who chose to return to the country following the strike.

Magade from Chebe, Centane, who started studying in Cuba in 2011 said he was grateful for the second chance he has been given by the department of health.

“I promised that I will conduct myself in a good manner in Cuba and be the star of my community. Once I finish my studies in Cuba, I will never abandon my community,” Magade said.

He said he had felt the pain of his family and community when news about their return broke out.

“Our intentions were to come here and explain to health authorities what happened in Cuba,” he said.

Mphumzi Mdledle, a doctor at Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital in Mthatha, who studied in Cuba came to offer moral support to Magade. He said conditions in Cuba were tough.

“It was never easy studying there. We once thought of gathering a strike after we went for three weeks without food.”

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