Pretoria - The design of the Matola Memorial and Interpretive Centre will be unveiled in Matola, Mozambique, by Arts and Culture Minister Paul Mashatile.
Mashatile is in Mozambique to commemorate the painful 30th anniversary of the Matola Raid.
During this year's commemoration, Mashatile and the Minister Responsible for Arts and Culture in Mozambique will sign a memorandum of understanding regarding the conceptualisation, design, development and implementation of the Matola Raid Memorial Project; as well as signing a Program of Co-operation in the areas of Arts and Culture.
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 ruling African National Congress (ANC) lived, killing 13 people. The Matola Raid casualties were buried on this day (14 February).
Furthermore, on 14 February 1982, on the first commemoration event, the late Mozambican President, Samora Machel, called for this day to be declared as the day of friendship between South Africa and Mozambique.
The event will be attended by families and relatives of those who died in Matola, South African and Mozambican cabinet ministers and senior ANC and Frelimo members.
