Amatola Commando

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Amatola Commando
SADF era Amatola Commando emblem.jpg
Amatola Commando emblem
Active3 January 1878 2003
Disbanded2003
CountryFlag of South Africa.svg  South Africa
Allegiance
Branch
Type Infantry
RoleLight Infantry
SizeOne Battalion
Part of South African Infantry Corps
Army Territorial Reserve
Garrison/HQ Stutterheim

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.

Contents

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 cordons 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 SADF era Amatola Commando insignia ver 2.jpg
SADF era Amatola Commando insignia

Leadership

Leadership
FromHonorary ColonelsTo
FromCommanding OfficerTo
FromRegimental Sergeant MajorTo

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References

  1. 152-637-1-PB.pdf
  2. Makay, Sue. "Grahamstown Journal 1878 - 3 - July to September eGGSA Newspaper Extracts". eGGSA. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
  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