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South African Foreign Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma to participate in commemoration of Matola raids in Mozambique
12 February 2009
Pretoria – South African Foreign Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma will on Saturday, 14 February 2009 deliver a keynote address at a ceremony to mark the 28th anniversary of the Matola raid carried out by apartheid security forces on African National Congress (ANC) safe houses in Matola, Mozambique. Minister Dlamini Zuma, accompanied by Arts and Culture Minister Pallo Jordan and South Africa's High Commissioner to Mozambique Thandi Lujabe-Rankoe, will depart from South Africa for Maputo on Friday afternoon.
The Matola raid on ANC safe houses was carried out on 30 January 1981 by a unit of the South African Defence Force (SANDF), as part of destabilisation efforts of southern African countries that were in support of the liberation struggle led by the ANC. Sixteen South Africans and one Portuguese national were killed during the attack.
In addition to Minister Dlamini Zuma, the ceremony is expected to be addressed by, among others, Minister Pallo Jordan, the Mayor Matola and a representative of Frelimo.
Minister Dlamini Zuma is expected to return to South Africa on conclusion of the commemorative event.
Contact:
Ronnie Mamoepa
Cell: 082 990 4853
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
12 February 2009