Lohatla

Last updated

South African Army Combat Training Centre
Postmasburg, Northern Cape province, [South Africa]
SANDF Army Training Combat Centre emblem.jpg
SANDF Army Training Combat Centre emblem
South Africa Northern Cape location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Lohatla
Red pog.svg
Upington
Red pog.svg
Kimberley
Lohatla (Northern Cape)
TypeMilitary Training Area
Area158,000 hectares or 1,580km^2
Site information
Owner Department of Defence
Controlled byFlag of the South African Army.svg  South African Army
ConditionIn use
Site history
Built1978
In use1978 present
Garrison information
Current
commander
Brigadier General Manyonyo Mofokeng

Lohatla is a training area of the South African National Defence Force. It is located in the Northern Cape province of South Africa and is home to the SA Army Combat Training Centre, [lower-alpha 1] which is part of the South African Army Training Formation.

Contents

Capability

The SA Army Combat Training Centre is unique in the sense that it is one of only ten such institutions in the world that provide exclusive and permanent facilities for landward warfare training. Only two of these institutions are located in the Southern hemisphere, of which the SA Army Combat Training Centre is the largest, 150,000 hectares (370,000 acres) in total. [1] }

History

This military training institution was founded on 15 January 1978 and was known as the South African Army Battle School. [2]

The Battle School originated due to a need by the Department of Defence for a military training facility where conventional and integrated training on divisional level could be executed. [3]

Nature Reserve

The Ga-Thlose Nature Reserve was proclaimed in 1890 and was managed as its domain by Agricultural Credit. Ownership by the local population was denied through a proclamation in 1976 and the Reserve was proclaimed a restricted military area. The local population living in the area were to be relocated in the passage of time. In the meantime it was agreed that the specific group of the local community could graze their cattle in the designated grazing areas. The movement to Ga-Thlose from the Sishen Gate was also permitted.

Area enlarged

The purchase of farms east and south of the above-mentioned area was completed in 1981 and the area, as a whole, was proclaimed as a restricted military area. The infrastructure taken over from the farmers was in a good condition.

Permanent in house units

During the early nineties, nine self accounting units were permanently based on the terrain:

Lohatla Signals unit shoulder flash SADF Lohatla Signals unit shoulder flash.png
Lohatla Signals unit shoulder flash

A Forward Air Command Post and Medical Command Post helped to integrate elements from the Air Force and Medical Service.

Forward Air Command Post Lohatla Forward Air Command Post Lohatla.jpg
Forward Air Command Post Lohatla

60 Brigade

Stemming from a reorganisation at Oshivello in 1989 from the 'ABS Rapid Deployment Force', an operational mechanised Brigade called 60 Brigade managing 61, 62 (placeholder battalion based on 4 SAI) and 63 (placeholder battalion based on 8 SAI) mechanised battalions as a joint entity was briefly housed at Lohatla from 1989 to 1994. This Brigade was primarily aimed at planning readiness for a conventional mechanised war and based on lessons learned from Operation Merlyn. [4]

SADF era 60 Brigade logo SADF era 60 Brigade logo.jpg
SADF era 60 Brigade logo

Visiting Units

Each unit visiting for training is accommodated in one of thirteen unit lines which has tank paving, maintenance areas and stores.

Insignia

SANDF era

A long-running land dispute involving the South African Army Combat Training Centre (CTC) at Lohatlha in the Northern Cape ended when the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform found alternative land to settle some of the community displaced by the 158 000 hectare base and training area in 1977. [5]

The institution was renamed the South African Army Combat Training Centre on 24 October 2000. [6] [7]

Annual Exercise Seboka integrated training

Exercise Seboka demonstrates the training of units in operations from each combat discipline. Infantry, Armour, Artillery, Intelligence, Air Defence Artillery, Engineers as well as elements from the Air Force and Military Health Serves are integrated. The exercise gives units the opportunity to plan and execute mobile warfare operations in real-time command and control under the supervision of experienced commanders. [8] [9] [10]

Training of the African Standby Force

The Army Combat Training Centre hosted the Amani Africa 2 field exercise to demonstrate the African Unions rapid deployment capability in 2015. The field exercise involved five regional economic communities, as structures of the African Union. Approximately 5,400 members from the military, police, and civilian components, representing four of the regional economic regions of the AU participated in the exercise. Countries involved included Algeria, Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. [11]

Leadership

Leadership
FromCommanding OfficerTo
1978Brigadier F.E.C. van den Berg1981
1981Brigadier C. van Rooyen1984
1984Brigadier Eddie Webbnd
1 March 2005Brigadier General J.D. Magasela1 December 2007
1 December 2007Brigadier General Nontobeko Mpaxa1 March 2013
1 March 2013Brigadier General Bhasie Gqoboka31 December 2014
1 January 2015Brigadier General Mawethu Mdlulwand
ndBrigadier General Manyonyo MofokengPresent
FromRegimental Sergeant MajorTo
c.1978WO1 J.H. Burgerc.1980
c.1980WO1 G. Venterc.1981

Notes

  1. Previously known as Lohatla Army Battle School

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">South West Africa Territorial Force</span> Military unit

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">South African Army Infantry Formation</span> Military unit

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">1 South African Infantry Battalion</span> Military unit

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">4 South African Infantry Battalion</span> Military unit

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Job Masego Regiment</span> Military unit

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Umkhonto Field Engineer Regiment</span> Military unit

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">8 South African Infantry Battalion</span> Military unit

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">7 South African Infantry Division</span> Military unit

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">6 Medical Battalion Group</span> Military unit

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">63 Mechanised Battalion Group</span> Military unit

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">62 Mechanised Battalion Group</span> Military unit

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">9 South African Infantry Division</span> Military unit

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">81 Armoured Brigade (South Africa)</span> Military unit

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References

  1. "SA Army Combat Training Centre". www.actc.army.mil.za. Archived from the original on 10 August 2018. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  2. Martin, Guy (18 November 2013). "SA Army bares its teeth during Exercise Seboka - defenceWeb". defenceweb.co.za.
  3. "SA soldiers prepare to fight again". www.enca.com. eNCA. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  4. Scholtz, L. (2012). "The Lessons of the Border War". Scientia Militaria. 40 (3): 318–353. doi: 10.5787/40-3-1039 .
  5. Engelbrecht, Leon (7 December 2010). "Lohatlha land dispute settled". defenceweb.co.za. defenceWeb.
  6. "SA to host large scale African Union military exercise". timeslive.co.za. Times LIVE. 7 October 2015. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  7. Martin, Guy (18 November 2013). "New gallery: Exercise Seboka 2013". defenceweb.co.za. defenceWeb.
  8. Martin, Guy (3 November 2015). "ISS: African Standby Force: how the AU can get it right". defenceweb.co.za. defenceWeb.
  9. "SA Army exercise kicks off at Lohatla". defenceWeb. 5 October 2018. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  10. "US Army in SA for peacekeeping exercise". Times Live. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  11. "SA readies to host AU military field training". eNCA. Retrieved 19 January 2023.

28°01′41″S23°06′28″E / 28.0280°S 23.1077°E / -28.0280; 23.1077