If Southern African states were asked to decide on a common date to commemorate freedom and independence it is possible March 23, , would be agreed on.
Twenty-five years ago that day became pivotal in bringing closure to the serial aggression of the SADF throughout the region β with dramatic consequences. I refer to the Battle for Cuito Cuanavale, a remote settlement in south-east Angola, km from the Caprivi Strip, where Angola, Cuban and apartheid forces were in fierce contestation for six bloody months.
SADF incursions deep into Angola saw the sabotaging of arms and fuel depots; repeated large-scale aggression in support of Unita; bombing of Zapu, Swapo and ANC camps including a horrific massacre at Cassinga of Namibian refugees continued for more than a decade. While Cold War factors had long emerged, with the apartheid regime projecting itself as a bastion against communism, the essence of the conflict was the struggle for true African independence against racism and colonialism.
By the MPLA government was determined to settle the situation. An offensive by their armed forces Fapla commenced in July , which drove Unita troops deployed in the interior back towards the Caprivi. Four Fapla brigades suffered heavy losses at the hands of the South Africans, with the 46th Brigade virtually destroyed. Fapla survivors fell back in disarray to Cuito Cuanavale.
The siege of the outpost began with Cubans arriving in the nick of time from their base at Menongue, km to the north-west. Thousands of Unita infantry were proverbial cannon fodder, deployed ahead of the SADF armour and taking the brunt of enemy fire. This accounted for low SADF casualties. In December, 1 elite Cuban troops arrived from Havana, reinforcing the town and the defensive positions which were remorselessly pounded by land and air. The defenders repulsed strike after strike.
