Freedom Park together with the Department of Military Veterans will commemorate the Battle of Cuito Cuanavale in a wreath laying ceremony on the 23 March 2024.
The significance of the Battle of Cuito Cuanavale encourages an appreciation of the importance that global solidarity played in the emancipation of Southern Africa and Africa. The commemoration of this Battle pays homage to all those who made the ultimate sacrifice for South Africa’s liberation.
This Battle is perceived to have changed the history and political landscape of the Southern African region. At the previously insignificant village of Cuito Cuanavale, Angolan, Namibian and Cuban forces triumphed over the apartheid military forces, whilst the South African liberation army fighting in Northern Angola managed to contain the Angolan rebel armies, thus preventing them from reinforcing the apartheid army. The Battle of Cuito Cuanavale did not directly end apartheid or resolve conflicts in southern Africa, it played a significant role in shaping regional dynamics and diplomatic efforts toward eventual peace and transition.
As a custodian of our constitutional democracy initiatives like this assist in healing the divisions of the past and unite Africans, including those living in the African Diaspora, in an endeavour to building a sustainable and peaceful Africa and the world.
