Cassinga
Encyclopedia
Cassinga is a former town in the Huíla
province of southern Angola
.
The transliteration Kassinga is also commonly used, with the "K" being a mutation of the original Portuguese
name either by German
miners, or by indigenous people in whose language the letter "K" is also common. Photographs of the name in stone next to the road indicate local use the original Portuguese spelling.
. During 1966-67 a major iron ore terminal was built in the coast by the Portuguese at Saco
, the bay just 12 km north of Moçâmedes
(present day Namibe
). The client was the Compania Mineira do Lobito, the Lobito
Mining Company, which developed an iron ore mine inland at Cassinga. The construction of the mine installations and 300 km railway were commissioned to Krupp
of Germany and the modern harbour terminal to SETH, a Portuguese company owned by Hojgaard & Schultz of Denmark. The small fishing town of Moçâmedes hosted construction workers, foreign engineers and their families for 2 years. The ore terminal was completed on time within one year and the first 250,000 ton ore carrier docked and loaded with ore in 1967. After independence of Angola from Portugal in 1975, the mining facilities at Cassinga were abandoned at the start of the Angolan Civil War
(1975-2002). Cassinga was also the site of the disputed Battle of Cassinga
(also known as the Cassinga Massacre) (4 May 1978), a South African airborne
attack on a South-West African People’s Organisation (SWAPO) military base, which was reportedly also a refugee camp of the liberation movement.
, this being the most efficient port in the region.
This railway would go via Oshikango
on Namibia’s northern border.
Huíla (province)
Huíla is a province of Angola. It has an area of 75,002 km² and a population of approximately 700,000.-Overview:Lubango is the capital of the province...
province of southern Angola
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
.
The transliteration Kassinga is also commonly used, with the "K" being a mutation of the original Portuguese
Portuguese language
Portuguese is a Romance language that arose in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia, nowadays Galicia and Northern Portugal. The southern part of the Kingdom of Galicia became independent as the County of Portugal in 1095...
name either by German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
miners, or by indigenous people in whose language the letter "K" is also common. Photographs of the name in stone next to the road indicate local use the original Portuguese spelling.
History
Nearby is the site of an old iron ore mine once built by the Portuguese authorities and KruppKrupp
The Krupp family , a prominent 400-year-old German dynasty from Essen, have become famous for their steel production and for their manufacture of ammunition and armaments. The family business, known as Friedrich Krupp AG Hoesch-Krupp, was the largest company in Europe at the beginning of the 20th...
. During 1966-67 a major iron ore terminal was built in the coast by the Portuguese at Saco
Saco
- Place names :Angola* Sacomar, Angola - marshalling yardsUnited States* Saco, California* Saco, Maine** Saco Bay ** The Saco River in Maine and New Hampshire* Saco, Missouri* Saco, MontanaMozambique* Saco Bay...
, the bay just 12 km north of Moçâmedes
Moçamedes
Moçâmedes may refer to:*Moçâmedes, was the name of a region and its chief city in the Portuguese Overseas Province of Angola, the present-day Namibe province and city, in South-Western Angola....
(present day Namibe
Namibe
Namibe is the capital city of Namibe Province in Angola. It is a coastal desert city located in southwestern Angola and was founded in 1840 by the Portuguese rulers of the territory. The city's current population is 132,900...
). The client was the Compania Mineira do Lobito, the Lobito
Lobito
Lobito is a town and municipality in Benguela Province in Angola.It dates from 1905 and owes its existence to the bay of the same name having been chosen as the sea terminus of the Benguela railway to the far interior, passing through Luau to Katanga in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The...
Mining Company, which developed an iron ore mine inland at Cassinga. The construction of the mine installations and 300 km railway were commissioned to Krupp
Krupp
The Krupp family , a prominent 400-year-old German dynasty from Essen, have become famous for their steel production and for their manufacture of ammunition and armaments. The family business, known as Friedrich Krupp AG Hoesch-Krupp, was the largest company in Europe at the beginning of the 20th...
of Germany and the modern harbour terminal to SETH, a Portuguese company owned by Hojgaard & Schultz of Denmark. The small fishing town of Moçâmedes hosted construction workers, foreign engineers and their families for 2 years. The ore terminal was completed on time within one year and the first 250,000 ton ore carrier docked and loaded with ore in 1967. After independence of Angola from Portugal in 1975, the mining facilities at Cassinga were abandoned at the start of the Angolan Civil War
Angolan Civil War
The Angolan Civil War was a major civil conflict in the Southern African state of Angola, beginning in 1975 and continuing, with some interludes, until 2002. The war began immediately after Angola became independent from Portugal in November 1975. Prior to this, a decolonisation conflict had taken...
(1975-2002). Cassinga was also the site of the disputed Battle of Cassinga
Battle of Cassinga
The Battle of Cassinga, Cassinga Raid or Kassinga Massacre was a controversial South African airborne attack on a South West Africa People's Organization refugee camp and military base at the former town of Cassinga, Angola on 4 May 1978...
(also known as the Cassinga Massacre) (4 May 1978), a South African airborne
Airborne forces
Airborne forces are military units, usually light infantry, set up to be moved by aircraft and 'dropped' into battle. Thus they can be placed behind enemy lines, and have an ability to deploy almost anywhere with little warning...
attack on a South-West African People’s Organisation (SWAPO) military base, which was reportedly also a refugee camp of the liberation movement.
Railway
Japanese interests wish to reopen the iron ore mine and link it by rail to the Namibian port of Walvis BayWalvis Bay
Walvis Bay , is a city in Namibia and the name of the bay on which it lies...
, this being the most efficient port in the region.
This railway would go via Oshikango
Oshikango
Oshikango is a village in northern Namibia and a border post to Angola. Since 2004 it is part of the town of Helao Nafidi but still maintains its own village council. It is the district capital of the Oshikango Constituency...
on Namibia’s northern border.
See also
- Cassinga DayCassinga DayCassinga Day is a national public holiday in Namibia remembering the Cassinga massacre. Occurring on 4 May yearly, the day "remembers those killed in 1978 when the South African Defence Force attacked a SWAPO base at Cassinga in southern Angola". Commemorations are marked yearly by ceremonies at...
, a national holiday in Namibia honouring those killed during the Battle of CassingaBattle of CassingaThe Battle of Cassinga, Cassinga Raid or Kassinga Massacre was a controversial South African airborne attack on a South West Africa People's Organization refugee camp and military base at the former town of Cassinga, Angola on 4 May 1978...
. - ChamuteteChamuteteChamutete is a town in southern Angola. Chamutete is also spelled Techamutete. It lies in Huíla Province.- Transport :It is currently terminus for a branch railway from Dongo on the Southern Railway system. In 2007, talks between Angola and Namibia were considering the interlinking of their...
- another iron ore mine - Railway stations in AngolaRailway stations in AngolaRailway stations in Angola include:- Maps :* * * - Stations served by passenger trains :- North line :...
- Transport in AngolaTransport in Angola- Railways :There are three separate railway lines in Angola:* Luanda Railway * Benguela Railway * Moçâmedes Railway - Highways :* total: 52,429 km* paved: 5,349 km* unpaved: 46,080 km...
- Iron ore in AfricaIron ore in AfricaIron ore production in Africa is dominated by South Africa, Mauritania and Algeria; Zimbabwe and Morocco produce ore for use within the country. Many countries possess iron ore deposits that are as yet unmined...