Kruger National Park Commando

Kruger National Park Commando
Kruger National Park Commando
Country	South Africa
Allegiance	Republic of South Africa Republic of South Africa
Branch	South African Army   South African Army
Type	Infantry
Role	Light Infantry
Size	One Battalion
Part of	South African Infantry Corps Army Territorial Reserve
Garrison/HQ	Kruger National Park

Kruger National Park 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

Operations

With the SADF

Kruger National Park Commando (KNPC) was based in the Kruger National Park and had 4 small base camps situated at:

• Crocodile Bridge,
• Sandriver near Skukuza,
• Shishangane near Nwanetsi and
• Masakosapan near Shingwedzi.

Each base was more or less of platoon strength with Sandriver as the headquarters.

The main role of the KNPC was daily foot patrols from south to north interdicting refugees and smugglers from Mozambique.

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. ^{[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]

Operation Corona

The role the KNPC fulfilled was eventually reactivated in the SANDF by Operation Corona. ^[4]

Unit Insignia

SADF era Kruger National Park Commando insignia

References

1. 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.
2. "About the Commando system". Archived from the original on 6 December 2007. Retrieved 17 January 2008.
3. de Lange, Deon. "South Africa: Commandos Were 'Hostile to New SA'" . Cape Argus. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
4. "Two Op Corona busts in a week for newly deployed Johannesburg Regiment". 19 April 2017.

See also

• South African Commando System

• South Africa portal