Issued by: Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology
13 November 1999
January 24th 1900 marked one of the fiercest fighting between the Boer Commando under General Louis Botha and the British forces on their way to relieve Ladysmith in KwaZulu Natal, then under siege.
The scene of the Battle was a large hill to the West of Ladysmith, Spioenkop or Ntabanyama as it is called in isiZulu. On that day the British Empire suffered one of its severest defeats, leaving many dead and wounded.
Although Spioenkop was not decisive in terms of the outcome of the War, it was indeed one of the heaviest loses in British military history.
With the Commonwealth Conference being held during November in Durban, the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Phillip, will visit the site of the Battle on 13 November 1999 at 15H00 to lay wreaths on the graves of fallen British soldiers.
A short programme in which, Inter alia, the Deputy President, Mr Jacob Zuma, the Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology, Dr Ben Ngubane and Premier Lionel Mtshali will preside, is scheduled to last from 15HOO -16HOO at the Spioenkop battle site.
The Duke of Kent represented the British government at the launch function of the Government programme at Brandfort early last month. The second royal visit will strengthen Britain's participation in the commemoration of the Centenary of the Anglo-Boer/South African War.
While there are many commemorations taking place all over South Africa, the event at Spioenkop is part of the Government programme to present the commemoration in a manner that seeks to promote reconciliation and nation building.
For more information please contact Frans Basson (012) 337-8587 or Andile Xaba (012) 337-8497 ends.