About this site

This resource is hosted by the Nelson Mandela Foundation, but was compiled and authored by Padraig O’Malley. It is the product of almost two decades of research and includes analyses, chronologies, historical documents, and interviews from the apartheid and post-apartheid eras.

1988

Cuito Cuanavale: The South Africans, with UNITA, expect to take the town and destroy a large part of the Angolan forces. Recognising the threat Cuba moves a large force into Cuito Cuanavale and saves the Angolans from defeat. The Cubans then march 10,000 troops South to a few miles from the Namibian border. As a result of this encounter the way is opened for talks on withdrawal of troops and Namibian independence. The talks involve Angola, South Africa, USSR, Cuba and USA.

February : SADF soldiers suppress an attempted coup by members of Bophuthatswana army.

Dulcie September, Chief Representative at the ANC's French Mission in Paris assassinated outside her office.

Inkatha forges military connections with KwaZulu government and SA Police. Bitter war against ANC, UDF and Natal communities ensues. Two UDF youth abducted and killed by Inkatha impis on way back from funeral. Violence begins to spread to Transvaal and other provinces. Thokoza becomes an area of intense fighting and KwaZulu is a ceaseless battleground.

Despite the violence secret talks continue between the ANC and government representatives.

This resource is hosted by the Nelson Mandela Foundation, but was compiled and authored by Padraig O’Malley. Return to theThis resource is hosted by the site.