Matola Raid

The Matola Raid or Matola Massacre was an attack of an African National Congress (ANC) facility by the apartheid-era South African state security forces in Matola, Mozambique on 30 January 1981. The attack left thirteen South Africans, who joined the structures of the ANC or its armed wing MK in exile, dead. Three of the attackers and one civilian were also killed.[1][2] Taking place during the height of apartheid, the operation aligned with the National Party's government strategy of destabilization in the region.[1][3] Since the attackers crossed international borders and violated sovereign Mozambican territory, the event has been characterised as a violation of International Law and widely condemned for its atrocious nature by representatives of western countries, non-aligned nations and the Eastern Bloc alike.[4]

Background

The raid was planned over a couple of months and attacks were carried out in the morning of 30 January 1981. Three ANC safe houses were targeted and attacked by the South African security forces. Some of the besieged ANC members managed to return fire and kill three of the attackers. One Mozambican of white complexion, who bore a striking resemblance to Joe Slovo, a high-profile ANC leader, was also murdered by the attackers in a case of mistaken identity.[5]

Reaction

Both president of the ANC Oliver Tambo and president of Mozambique Samora Machel condemned the killings. The United Nations Special Committee Against Apartheid condemned the attack as an act of "terrorism and aggression by the Apartheid Regime against a neighbouring state".[4]

In the inaugural commemoration of the killings, President Machel declared this as a day of friendship between the ANC and the government of Mozambique which presidents Filipe Nyusi and Jacob Zuma continued to acknowledge during the unveiling of the monument in 2005.[5][1]

References
  1. "Truth Commission - Special Report - MOLEBATSI, DanielEpisode 82, Section 3, Time 23:05". sabctrc.saha.org.za.
  2. "Statement by Oliver Tambo on South African Raid on Matola, 05 February 1981 | South African History Online". www.sahistory.org.za.
  3. Hanlon, Joseph. Beggar your neighbours: apartheid power in Southern Africa. Vol. 356. Indiana University Press, 1986.
  4. Apartheid, UN Special Committee against (1981). "Report of the Special Committee against Apartheid". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  5. DMV, 2015 ©. "The Department of Military Veterans". The Department of Military Veterans website.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)


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