Drakensberg Commando
Drakensberg Commando | |
---|---|
Founded | 1961 (63 years ago) (1961) |
Disbanded | February 14, 2023 (20 months ago) (2023-02-14) |
Country | South Africa |
Allegiance | |
Branch | |
Type | Infantry |
Role | Light Infantry |
Size | One Battalion |
Part of | South African Infantry Corps Army Territorial Reserve, Group 11 and Group 27 |
Garrison/HQ | Newcastle |
Drakensberg Commando was a light infantry regiment of the South African Army. It formed part of the South African Army Infantry Formation as well as the South African Territorial Reserve.
History
[edit]Origins
[edit]The Drakensberg Commando was raised in 1961 in Newcastle as a company of the Dundee Commando.
Operations
[edit]With the SADF
[edit]The unit became a fully fledged unit by August 1964.
The unit was fell initially under the command of Group 11 until that Group HQ was disbanded and then resorted under command of Group 27 in Eshowe.
A company of this unit did border duty in South West Africa in 1976.
The units also saw duty in the internal unrest of northern Natal.
With the SANDF
[edit]Disbandment
[edit]This unit, along with all other Commando units was disbanded after a decision by South African President Thabo Mbeki to disband all Commando Units.[1][2] The Commando system was phased out between 2003 and 2008 "because of the role it played in the apartheid era", according to the Minister of Safety and Security Charles Nqakula.[3]
Unit Insignia
[edit]Leadership
[edit]From | Honorary Colonels | To |
From | Commanding Officers | To |
From | Regimental Sergeants Major | To |
References
[edit]- ^ van Stade, Col L B (1997). "Rationalisation in the SANDF: The Next Challenge". Senior Staff Officer Rationalisation, SANDF. Institute for Security Studies. Archived from the original on 16 March 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
- ^ "About the Commando system". Archived from the original on 6 December 2007. Retrieved 17 January 2008.
- ^ de Lange, Deon. "South Africa: Commandos Were 'Hostile to New SA'". Cape Argus. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
See also
[edit]South African Commandos | |
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Group 1 (HQ Kelvin) | |
Group 2 (HQ Oudtshoorn) |
|
Group 3 (collapsed into other groups) | |
Group 4 (collapsed into other groups) | |
Group 5 (collapsed into other groups) | |
Group 6 (HQ Port Elizabeth) | |
Group 7 (HQ Grahamstown) |
|
Group 8 (HQ East London) | |
Group 9 (HQ Pietermaritzburg) |
|
Group 10 (HQ Montclair, Durban) | |
Group 11 (HQ Dundee) | |
Group 12 (HQ Ermelo) | |
Group 13 (collapsed into other groups) | |
Group 14 (HQ Pietersburg) |
|
Group 15 (HQ Thaba Tshwane) | |
Group 16 (HQ Marievale) |
|
Group 17 (HQ Midvaal) | |
Group 18 (HQ Doornkop) | |
Group 19 (collapsed into other groups) | |
Group 20 (HQ Mmabatho) | |
Group 21 (collapsed into other groups) | |
Group 22 (HQ Diskobolos) | |
Group 23 (HQ Upington) | |
Group 24 (HQ Kroonstad) | |
Group 25 (HQ Bethlehem) | |
Group 26 (HQ, Jacobsdal) | |
Group 27 (HQ Eshowe) | |
Group 28 (collapsed into other groups) | |
Group 29 (collapsed into other groups) | |
Group 30 (HQ Potchefstroom) | |
Group 31 (HQ Wellington) | |
Group 32 (HQ Graaff-Reinet) | |
Group 33 (HQ Nelspruit) | |
Group 34 (HQ Welkom) | |
Group 35 (HQ Bloemfontein) | |
Group 36 (HQ Tempe/Ladybrand) |
|
Group 39 (HQ Queenstown) | |
Group 40 (HQ Wingsfield) | |
Group 41 (HQ Primrose) | |
Group 42 (HQ Lenz) |
|
Group 46 (HQ Umtata) |
|
Walvis Bay Military Area | |
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