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Gruesome Matola raid remembered, perpetrators still walking free
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Durban - Four decades after commandos from the then SA Defence Force illegally entered Mozambique and killed 15 members of Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK), the raid that shocked the southern Africa region was commemorated over the weekend.
So far no one has been held accountable for the brutal raid.
The raid happened on January 30, 1981 and the apartheid army had falsely believed that among those killed on that day was Joe Slovo, the former national chairperson of the SACP.
On Saturday, the ANC issued a statement to remember the painful raid but said nothing about the fact that no one has been prosecuted for the crime.
Murderous Matola raid only made our resolve stronger 31 January 2021 - 00:00 By MBULELO MUSI
It is hard to believe that it is now 40 years since 14 people were butchered brutally in three residences around Matola, a small suburb on the outskirts of Maputo, the capital of Mozambique. For me, as one of the fortunate survivors of that dastardly and callous act conducted by the racist apartheid security forces, it feels like just yesterday.
It is still crystal clear and vivid in my mind. The wound is still as fresh and deep, and the pain endures. It was January 30 1981, just after midnight. We were all asleep at three different residences. Ours was house no 877, Rua de Ngungunyana. The silence of the night was broken by the thundering sounds of rifle fire and rocket launchers.