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Durban North Commando

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Durban North Commando
Durban North Commando emblem
Disbanded1994 (1994)
Country South Africa
Branch South African Army
TypeInfantry
RoleLight infantry
SizeOne battalion
Part ofSouth African Infantry Corps
Army Territorial Reserve
Garrison/HQDurban North

Durban North 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

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Origin

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Operations

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With the SADF

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During the State of Emergency in the 1980s, this commando was tasked with protecting strategic facilities. The unit was primarily tasked in quelling township riots.[1][2]

The unit resorted under the command of the SADF's Group 10.

First Indian officer in the Commandos
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Vikram Singh of Tongaat became the first Indian officer in the commandos in 1984.[3]

With the SANDF

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Amalgamation and Disbandment
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This unit was amalgamated with the Durban South Commando in 1994.

The amalgamated unit along with all other Commando units was disbanded after a decision by South African President Thabo Mbeki to disband all Commando Units.[4][5] 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.[6]

Unit Insignia

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SADF era Durban North Commando insignia
SADF era Durban North Commando insignia

Leadership

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Leadership
From Honorary Colonels To
From Commanding Officers To
From Regimental Sergeants Major To

References

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  1. ^ "States of Emergency in South Africa: The 1960s and 1980s | South African History Online". Archived from the original on 24 July 2018. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
  2. ^ "War and Resistance". Archived from the original on 7 January 2019. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
  3. ^ http://scnc.ukzn.ac.za/doc/Periodicals/Fiat_Lux/Fiat_Lux_1980_1990s/Fiat_Lux_1988_1989_v23/Fiat_Lux_1989_v23_5_Jan/Pages_from_Fiat_Lux_1989_v23_5_Jan-3.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  4. ^ Col L B van Stade, Senior Staff Officer Rationalisation, SANDF (1997). "Rationalisation in the SANDF: The Next Challenge". Institute for Security Studies. Archived from the original on 16 March 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ "About the Commando system". Archived from the original on 6 December 2007. Retrieved 17 January 2008.
  6. ^ de Lange, Deon. "South Africa: Commandos Were 'Hostile to New SA'". Cape Argus. Retrieved 5 March 2015.

See also

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