Johannesburg, July 28 (RHC) – South Africa's ruling African National Congress has launched a Cuban Solidarity Campaign -- pledging to work against long-standing U.S. economic blockade against the Caribbean island nation.

ANC Secretary-General Gwede Mantashe has pledged South Africa to help Cuba fight the "inhuman U.S. sanctions against the Caribbean nation.”

"We should pay our solidarity to the cause of the Cuban people, reciprocate the solidarity they gave to us, and do that out of love and out of appreciation that we need each other," Mantashe said.

Mantashe's spoke at an event in Johannesburg marking 20 years of diplomatic relations between Cuba and South Africa.

As part of that engagement, Mantashe says the ANC will soon push for a parliamentary resolution calling on President Barack Obama to end the sanctions and release the Cuban anti-terrorist fighters still imprisoned in the United States.

Mantashe says he is calling on Obama to take a comprehensive political decision on relations with Cuba.

The United Nations General Assembly has for the past 20 years passed an annual resolution condemning the sanctions as a violation of international law.

Cuba's ambassador to South Africa, Carlos Fernandez de Cossio, says he appreciates South Africa's support and is hopeful it will have an impact.