Umvoti Commando
| Umvoti Commando | |
|---|---|
 Umvoti Commando emblem | |
| Active | 1952- |
| Country |  South Africa |
| Allegiance | |
| Branch | |
| Type | Infantry |
| Role | Light Infantry |
| Size | One Battalion |
| Part of | Natal Command Group 9 |
| Garrison/HQ | Greytown |
| Motto(s) | "Popula Nostro Servire" We serve our people |
Umvoti Commando was a Commando unit of the South African Army. It formed part of the South African Army Infantry Formation as well as the South African Territorial Reserve.
History[edit]
Origin[edit]
Rifle Association[edit]
The forerunner of Umvoti Commando was a unit raised in 1949 in the Greytown district as sub unit of the Zululand Skiet Kommando under command of Captain A.W. Rossouw.
Operations[edit]
With the UDF[edit]
Umvoti Commando was named on 5 August 1952 after a requirement to split from the Zululand Skiet Kommando was approved.
With the SADF[edit]
The unit was stationed in Greytown since its beginning and moved to a purpose built HQ in 1978.
Area of responsibility[edit]
The unit was responsible for Umvoti, Kranskop, New Hannover and Msinga magisterial districts.
National Colours[edit]
The unit was awarded its National Colours on 29 June 1991.
With the SANDF[edit]
Disbandment[edit]
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]
Unit Insignia[edit]
Leadership[edit]
- Cmdt J.F. van Rooyen 1952-1963
- Cmdt W.G. Redinger 1963-1966
- Cmdt K. du Preez 1966-1967
- Cmdt J. van Rooyen 1967-1969
- Cmdt J Menne 1969-1971
- Cmdt W.G. Redinger 1971-1978
- Cmdt G.E. Lauterbach 1978-1988
- Cmdt W.W. Fourie 1988-
References[edit]
- ^ 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.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "About the Commando system". Retrieved 17 January 2008.
- ^ de Lange, Deon. "South Africa: Commandos Were 'Hostile to New SA'". Cape Argus. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
South African Commandos | |
|---|---|
| Group 1 (HQ Kelvin) | |
| Group 2 (HQ Oudtshoorn) |
|
| Group 3 (collapsed into other groups) | |
| Group 4 (collapsed into other groups) | |
| Group 5 (collapsed into other groups) | |
| Group 6 (HQ Port Elizabeth) | |
| Group 7 (HQ Grahamstown) |
|
| Group 8 (HQ East London) | |
| Group 9 (HQ Pietermaritzburg) |
|
| Group 10 (HQ Montclair, Durban) | |
| Group 11 (HQ Dundee) | |
| Group 12 (HQ Ermelo) | |
| Group 13 (collapsed into other groups) | |
| Group 14 (HQ Pietersburg) |
|
| Group 15 (HQ Thaba Tshwane) | |
| Group 16 (HQ Marievale) |
|
| Group 17 (HQ Midvaal) | |
| Group 18 (HQ Doornkop) | |
| Group 19 (collapsed into other groups) | |
| Group 20 (HQ Mmabatho) | |
| Group 21 (collapsed into other groups) | |
| Group 22 (HQ Diskobolos) | |
| Group 23 (HQ Upington) | |
| Group 24 (HQ Kroonstad) | |
| Group 25 (HQ Bethlehem) | |
| Group 26 (HQ, Jacobsdal) | |
| Group 27 (HQ Eshowe) | |
| Group 28 (collapsed into other groups) | |
| Group 29 (collapsed into other groups) | |
| Group 30 (HQ Potchefstroom) | |
| Group 31 (HQ Wellington) | |
| Group 32 (HQ Graaff-Reinet) | |
| Group 33 (HQ Nelspruit) | |
| Group 34 (HQ Welkom) | |
| Group 35 (HQ Bloemfontein) | |
| Group 36 (HQ Tempe/Ladybrand) |
|
| Group 39 (HQ Queenstown) | |
| Group 40 (HQ Wingsfield) | |
| Group 41 (HQ Primrose) | |
| Group 42 (HQ Lenz) |
|
| Group 46 (HQ Umtata) |
|
| Walvis Bay Military Area | |
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