Pretoria, 20 March 2025 – The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC), in partnership with its
entities the Freedom Park Heritage Site and Museum, and the National Heritage Council of South
Africa (NHC), shall host a Day of Reflection on Resistance and Liberation Heritage on Sunday, 23
March 2025, in commemoration of the Battle of Cuito Cuanavale.
he event, which will take place at Freedom Park in Pretoria, will include a public lecture and wreathlaying ceremony, led by Minister Gayton McKenzie. The commemoration will be attended by
ambassadors from Angola, Cuba, Namibia, and Russia, as well as representatives from other
Southern African Development Community (SADC) nations
Angola’s Minister of Culture and Tourism, His Excellency Mr. Felipe Silva de Pina Za, is also expected
to attend with a delegation.
This significant occasion aims to educate and create awareness about the legacy of the Battle of Cuito
Cuanavale, its importance in Southern Africa’s liberation struggle, and its lasting impact on South
Africa and Namibia’s fight for freedom.
Fought in southern Angola between 1987 and 1988, the Battle of Cuito Cuanavale was one of the
most decisive military engagements in Africa’s liberation history. It played a critical role in strategically
reshaping the narrative around apartheid South Africa’s military incursion into the rest of Africa, paving
the way for Namibia’s independence, and significantly contributing to the eventual collapse of
apartheid.
Dr Jane Mufamadi, CEO of Freedom Park, said: “The commemoration of the Battle of Cuito Cuanavale
is more than a reflection on history – it is a tribute to international solidarity and the sacrifices that
shaped the democratic South Africa we live in today,”.
This event will provide a platform for young people, researchers, and heritage practitioners to engage
with the legacy of African-led resistance, reinforcing Freedom Park’s role as a space for dialogue,
education, and remembrance.
“The shared heritage of solidarity, courage and freedom to free the respective people from colonialism
and even in civil war, should be highlighted. Liberation heritage is about a living memorial initiative to
recognise and honour those who sacrificed for freedom and built a better future for all of us”, said Dr
Thabo Manetsi, CEO of the NHC.
Minister McKenzie said: “The Battle of Cuito Cuanavale and the Cuban intervention in Angola marked
a turning point in Southern African history. The South African Defence Force was made to rethink the
Border War after the battle, making it a historic milestone in the fight for the liberation of the region
from apartheid and military aggression.”
The battle holds a prominent place in the Roads to Independence initiative, a UNESCO-recognised
cultural heritage programme that traces the liberation struggles of South Africa and Namibia. At the
33rd UNESCO General Conference in 2005, and later at the 16th African Union Assembly in 2011,
the initiative was expanded into the African Liberation Heritage Programme, reaffirming the continent’s
commitment to preserving the memory of its fight for independence.
As part of this broader liberation heritage agenda, South Africa and Angola formalised their
commitment to preserving this history through a bilateral Agreement and Programme of Cooperation
(PoC), signed from 10 to 13 April 2018. This agreement proposed that 23 March be officially
recognised as a Day of Reflection across all SADC countries, ensuring that the legacy of Cuito
Cuanavale continues to inspire future generations
For media inquiries:
Tebogo Ramutloa, Communications Officer | Email: tebogo@freedompark.co.za | 012 336
4144 | 082 7933 130
