Cassinga Day honours the spirit of resistance and sacrifice President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah at a Cassinga Day commemoration event, 4 May  Today, as we commemorate the 47th anniversary of the brutal and senseless attack on Cassinga, which took place on the 4th of May 1978 in Angola, I begin by paying solemn tribute to the pioneers of our national liberation struggle. We honour the memory of our forebearers, heroes and heroines, men and women, young and old, who gave everything so that Namibia could be free. Their sacrifices are the very foundation upon which our republic stands today. Cassinga Day is a stark reminder of the cruelty of the apartheid South African occupation regime. It was on this day that innocent refugees, mostly women and children, were viciously and inhumanely attacked by a minority regime intent on crushing the will of our people. Instead of breaking our spirit, this massacre only strengthened the resolve of our people to fight for justice, dignity and independence. We pay special homage to the founding president of the Republic of Namibia and the Swapo Party, the father of the Namibian nation and the leader of the Namibian revolution, comrade president Sam Shafiishuna Nujoma, who led our liberation movement with unwavering determination from the formation of Swapo in 1960 until 2007. Under his visionary leadership, before and after independence, our struggle advanced from resistance to nationhood. May he, along with all our brave fallen comrades, be eternally remembered for their courage, sacrifices and selfless service to the Namibian people. The apartheid regime thought that by attacking Cassinga, they could kill the spirit of our revolution. However, they were wrong. The blood of those innocent Namibians did not spill in vain; it watered the tree of our freedom and continues to inspire generations. As we recall the events of Cassinga today, let us recommit ourselves to the values that carried us through the darkest chapters of our history: discipline, unity of purpose, resilience and unwavering patriotism. Let us remain focused and stand united behind the 8th administration of the Swapo Party government as we march toward the second phase of our struggle for the economic emancipation of each and every Namibian. In memory of the Cassinga martyrs, we must redouble our efforts to implement the Swapo Party election manifesto and its implementation plan at all levels of governance for the next five years. We undertake to transform our society, improve the quality of lives of our people, and fulfil the promises of the revolution. Cassinga will never be forgotten. Its memory will remain a guiding light as we continue building a united, just, peaceful and prosperous Namibia. Long live the spirit of Cassinga! One Namibia, one nation! Public-Statement-by-Her-Excellency-President-Netumbo-Nandi-Ndaitwah-on-the-Commemoration-of-Cassinga-Day-4-May-2025Download The post Cassinga Day honours the spirit of resistance and sacrifice appeared first on The Namibian.

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Cuba credited for saving Cassinga survivors Hertta-Maria Amutenja  President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has again thanked the Cuban revolutionary forces for saving survivors of the 1978 Cassinga massacre.  She said their support will never be forgotten. “We thank the Cuban revolutionary people. The internationalist will never go away. And you must understand, Namibians—current and future—will stand with Cuba in whatever situation,” she said during the 47th Cassinga Day commemoration on Friday. On 4 May 1978, South African airborne troops attacked the Cassinga camp in southern Angola.  The camp served as a refugee reception centre and was run by Swapo.  More than 600 people were killed, many of them women and children. Nandi-Ndaitwah said Cuban forces operating in Angola at the time acted quickly to help Swapo combatants and survivors of the attack. “Thanks to the internationalists of the Cuban revolutionary army who were also operating in Angola. They moved swiftly to join Swapo combatants in the nearby areas, which was not easy, and that’s what saved our Cassinga survivors who are here,” she said. She described the attack as a reminder of the brutality of the apartheid forces. “It was on this day that innocent refugees, mostly women and children, were viciously and inhumanely attacked by a minority regime intent on crushing the will of our people. Instead of breaking our spirit, this massacre only strengthened the resolve of our people to fight for justice, dignity and independence,” she said. She urged Namibians to stay committed to the values that guided them during the liberation struggle. “Let us recommit ourselves to the values that carried us through the darkest chapters of our history: discipline, unity of purpose, resilience and unwavering patriotism. Let us remain focused and stand united behind the 8th Administration of the Swapo Party government as we march toward the second phase of our struggle for the economic emancipation of each and every Namibian,” said Nandi-Ndaitwah. She also paid tribute to those who died in the attack and the fighters who came to help. “We pay special homage to all those who sacrificed, the ones found in the camp and those who were on the way to assist them,” she said. SWAPO secretary general Sophia Shaningwa also spoke during the event.  She thanked Nandi-Ndaitwah for her leadership. “You, our leader, are the only person we can say you are here to protect and heal those broken hearts at this very difficult time,” said Shaningwa. The Cassinga massacre is commemorated every year to honour those who died and to reflect on Namibia’s journey to independence.  The Cassinga settlement was used by Swapo to receive Namibians fleeing South African rule and prepare them for resistance.

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Cassinga Day commemorated in Okongo Cassinga Day commemorated in Okongo NBC Online Mon, 05/05/2025 - 18:46

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President Calls for Unity As Nation Commemorates Cassinga Massacre [Namibian] President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has called on Namibians to unite behind her and the eighth administration of the Swapo-led government as the country commemorates Cassinga Day.

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‘We remember Cassinga’ — Kahungu Casssinga commemorations were underway at Okongo in the Ohangwena region on Sunday, where Namibians gathered to remember the events of 4 May 1978. Survivors of the bombing of a Swapo refugee camp in Angola during the liberation struggle recounted the South African airborne attack. “This day reminds us of 4 May 1978 when mostly women and children were brutally killed at Cassinga in Angola … We remember those who perished on this fateful day,” said Swapo Women’s Council secretary Fransina Kahungu. The post ‘We remember Cassinga’ — Kahungu appeared first on The Namibian.

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President calls for unity as nation commemorates Cassinga massacre President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has called on Namibians to unite behind her and the eighth administration of the Swapo-led government as the country commemorates Cassinga Day. She said this at an event to commemorate the Cassinga massacre on Saturday night. The attack took place 47 years ago on 4 May. Aborut 600 Namibians were killed in 1978 when the South African Defence Force attacked a Swapo base at Cassinga in southern Angola. Nandi-Ndaitwah at the event urged the nation to remain focus and united. “Let us remain focused and stand united behind the eighth administration of the Swapo government as we march toward the second phase of our struggle – the economic emancipation of each and every Namibian,” she said. Nandi-Ndaitwah said in memory of the Cassinga victims, Namibians must redouble their efforts to implement the 2024 Swapo election manifesto at all levels of governance over the next five years. “As we recall the events of Cassinga today, let us recommit ourselves to the values that carried us through the darkest chapters of our history: discipline, unity of purpose, resilience, and unwavering patriotism,” she said. The president reaffirmed her administration’s commitment to transforming society, improving the quality of life for all Namibians, and fulfilling the promises of the liberation struggle. “Cassinga will never be forgotten. Its memory will remain a guiding light as we continue building a united, just, peaceful, and prosperous Namibia,” she said. The post President calls for unity as nation commemorates Cassinga massacre appeared first on The Namibian.

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