Pongola Commando

Pongola Commando
Pongola Commando emblem
Disbanded	February 14, 2003(22 years ago) (2003-02-14)
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	Pongola

Pongola Commando was a light infantry regiment of the South African Army and was based in the town of Pongola. It formed part of the South African Army Infantry Formation as well as the South African Territorial Reserve.

History

Origin

This unit was created by merging the Pongola Company of the Piet Retief Commando with the North Coast Commando on 17 October 1970. ^[1]

Operations

With the SADF

Under the SADF, the unit was mainly engaged in area force protection, search and cordones as well as stock theft control assistance to the rural police.

During severe Tropical Storm Domoina in 1984, the unit provided civil protection support through establishing a communication network, by distributing much needed food and emergency supplies, and a range of other civil defence measures. ^{[1] [2]}

With the SANDF

Disbandment

This unit, along with all other Commando units, was phased out between 2003 and 2008 following a decision by South African President Thabo Mbeki. ^{[3] [4]} According to the then Minister of Safety and Security, Charles Nqakula, the decision formed part of a national process to abolish the commando system and to establish new structures for local security. ^[5]

Unit Insignia

The unit's insignia features a barrel or vat, a design inspired by the town's name, which is derived from the uPhongolo River, itself named after the isiZulu word for barrel, vat, trough, or cask. ^{[6] [7]}

SADF era Pongola Commando insignia

Leadership

Leadership

From	Honorary Colonels	To
From	Commanding Officers	To
1970	Comdt N.J. Robertse	1978
1978	Comdt J. Bezuidenhout	1980
August 1980	Comdt Jhr. L.J.S. Changuion SM DTM	March 1985
1985	Comdt C. Rudolph	1989
1989	Comdt D. Barnard	?
From	Regimental Sergeants Major	To

The unit's commanding officers listed above generally held the rank of commandant. ^[1]

References

1. Els, Paul (14 October 2007). "Pongola Commando". War in Angola. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
2. Woschitz, Nicolene (1996). Die Pongola-Vallei. Juweel van Kwazulu-Natal [The Pongola Valley. Jewel of Kwazulu-Natal] (in Afrikaans). Pretoria, South Africa: Sigma Pers. p. 165. ISBN 0-620-19830-3.
3. van Stade, Col L B (1997). "Rationalisation in the SANDF: The Next Challenge". Senior Staff Officer Rationalisation, SANDF. Institute for Security Studies. Archived from the original on 16 March 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
4. "About the Commando system" . Retrieved 17 January 2008.
5. de Lange, Deon. "South Africa: Commandos Were 'Hostile to New SA'" . Cape Argus. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
6. P E Raper - HSRC. Dictionary of Southern African Place Names.
7. "Umphongolo/imiphongolo". isiZulu.net Zulu-English Dictionary. Retrieved 7 February 2025.

See also

• South African Commando System

• South Africa portal