Amatola Commando

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Amatola Commando
SADF era Amatola Commando emblem.jpg
Amatola Commando emblem
Country South Africa
Allegiance
  • Flag of the Cape Colony (1876–1910).svg Cape Colony
  • South Africa Flag 1910-1912.svg Union of South Africa
  •  Republic of South Africa
  •  Republic of South Africa
Branch
  •  South African Army
  •  South African Army
TypeInfantry
RoleLight Infantry
SizeOne Battalion
Part ofSouth African Infantry Corps
Army Territorial Reserve
Garrison/HQStutterheim

Amatola 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[]

Origin[]

Colony Frontier Wars[]

The Ngqika Rebellion[]

On 31 December 1877 martial law was proclaimed in the districts of Komgha and Stutterheim and on 3 January 1878 the Burgher Act was published which enabled government to call out burgher commandos.[1][2]

Operations[]

With the Cape Colony[]

With the UDF[]

With the SADF[]

During this era, the unit was mainly used for area force protection, search and cordones as well as stock theft control assistance to the rural police.

With the SANDF[]

Disbandment[]

This unit, along with all other Commando units was disbanded after a decision by South African President Thabo Mbeki to disband all Commando Units.[3][4] 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.[5]

Unit Insignia[]

SADF era Amatola Commando insignia

Leadership[]

Leadership
From Honorary Colonels To
From Commanding Officer To
From Regimental Sergeant Major To

References[]

  1. ^ file:///C:/Users/mrc21645/OneDrive%20-%20concor.co.za/Downloads/152-637-1-PB.pdf
  2. ^ "Grahamstown Journal 1878 - 3 - July to September - eGGSA Newspaper Extracts".
  3. ^ Col L B van Stade (1997). "Rationalisation in the SANDF: The Next Challenge". Institute for Security Studies. Archived from the original on 16 March 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
  4. ^ "About the Commando system". Archived from the original on 6 December 2007. Retrieved 17 January 2008.
  5. ^ de Lange, Deon. "South Africa: Commandos Were 'Hostile to New SA'". Cape Argus. Retrieved 5 March 2015.

See also[]

  • South African Commando System


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