Arts and Culture Minister, Paul Mashatile, will lead a South African delegation to Mozambique for the commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the Matola Raid. The commemoration will take place on 14 February 2010.
The 1981 Matola Raid was the first open act of war by the apartheid government against Mozambique. During the raid South African commandos attacked houses in Matola where exiled members of the ANC lived, killing 13 people.
14 February is a historic day, in that it was the day on which the casualties of the Matola Raid were buried.
Furthermore, on 14 February 1982, on the first commemoration event, former Mozambican President Samora Machel called 14 February to be declared as the day of friendship between South Africa and Mozambique.
This year’s commemoration will serve two main purposes. Firstly, the respective Ministers of Arts and Culture of South Africa and Mozambique will sign a Memorandum of Understanding regarding the Conceptualisation, Design, Development and Implementation of the Matola Raid Memorial Project as well as a Programme of Cooperation in the areas of Arts and Culture.
Secondly, at this year’s commemoration the design of the Matola Memorial and Interpretive Centre will be unveiled.
The event will be attended among others by families and relatives of those who died in Matola; South African and Mozambican Cabinet Ministers and Senior ANC and Frelimo members.
The ceremony will take place at the Frelimo School Hall in Matola.
