Soldiers to march in Soweto

Kyt · Nov 6, 2008

city of johannesburg - Soldiers to march in Soweto

SOWETANS should not be alarmed when they see soldiers marching through the streets of the township on Saturday, 8 November. They needn't worry - it won't be a 1980s-style anti-apartheid march, but the Freedom Regiments Parade.

The parade normally takes place on the day before Remembrance Sunday, the day set aside in Europe and the United Kingdom to commemorate the dead of WW1 and WW2.

In Johannesburg, Remembrance Sunday honours those who died in the world wars, but also those who died in the armed struggle for freedom and democracy in the country.

The parade is taking place in Soweto for the first time; military units and veterans will march down Mooki Street in Orlando East, on their way to the Orlando Communal Hall. Starting at 11am, some 400 soldiers will march behind a massed pipe band.

"The shift of venue underlines the inclusive, democratic ethos of the city, while enabling Soweto residents to view the occasion for the first time," according to the statement from the Speaker's Office.

In previous years, the march has been held in the city centre, ending at the Cenotaph in Beyers Naude Square.

A number of military veterans' organisations will march: Umkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans Association, the Azanian People's Liberation Army Military Veterans' Association, the South African National Military Veterans' Association, the Azanian National Liberation Army Military Veterans' Association, the Council of Military Veterans' Organisations, and 12 Freedom Regiments will hold a combined parade in support of the 21 Battalion, an army unit with a long association with Soweto.

So far, 12 regiments have been given Freedom of Entry status to march in the city with fixed bayonets, colours flying and drums beating, a privilege and "a symbolic token of the trust placed in a specific regiment or unit by the civilian population".

The Orlando Communal Hall is a historic venue - it was used for ANC meetings from the 1930s and was where the Pan Africanist Congress was formed in 1959. "This area is also associated with leading figures of the anti-apartheid movement, including Nelson Mandela, Oliver Tambo and Robert Sobukwe."

The Speaker, Nkele Ntingane, will be the patron of the Freedom Parade and will receive the salute. After the march a religious service and a wreath-laying ceremony will be held to remember fallen comrades and heroes.

Remembrance Day
On Sunday, the traditional Remembrance Day ceremony will be held in Beyers Naude Square in the CBD, and will be broadcast live on SAfm.

Executive Mayor Amos Masondo will officiate, with the Reverend Dr Mongezi Guma giving the sermon. Prayers will be said by Moulana Abbas Hlatswayo, Guru Sarma, chaplain Fredaline Manganye and Rabbi Ron Hendler.

The afternoon will consist of a number of ceremonies: a march past, the posting of sentries, a MOTH salute and prayer, the playing of the Last Post, and the laying of wreaths.

Battle of Square Hill
At this year's service, a special tribute will be paid to mark the 90th anniversary of the Battle of Square Hill, when soldiers of the Cape Corps distinguished themselves in battle in Palestine (now the Middle East). They captured a hill held by German and Turkish forces and defended it against all counter-attacks. They captured 181 prisoners and eight officers and about 160 other ranks, as well as took possession of an enemy field gun.

In all this, they only lost one man, with one wounded.

They moved forward to another hill alongside Square Hill, without artillery support, and fierce fighting resulted in the loss of 51 soldiers, with 101 wounded. They held their ground despite heavy artillery and machine gun fire.

The Cape Corps returned to Cape Town with 16 Distinguished Conduct medals, eight Military medals, two Order of the Crown of Italy (bronze), two Decoration Militaire (Belgium) and one Medaille Militaire (France).

"The contribution of soldiers of colour was enormous and the price they paid was equally high. Of the 12 452 South African servicemen who died in the First World War, 3 901 were either black, Indian or coloured."

This year marks the 90th anniversary of the end of WW1.
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Soldiers to march in Soweto

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