Vereeniging Commando

Vereeniging Commando
Vereeniging Commando
Active	c. 1921–2006
Disbanded	29 September 2006
Country	South Africa
Allegiance	Union Defence Force; 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, Group 17
Garrison/HQ	Vereeniging
Motto(s)	ENSE ET ARATRO Serving in War and Peace (Afrikaans: Dien in Oorlog en Vrede)

Vereeniging 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[edit]

Origin[edit]

The Vereeniging Commando was formed in 1921 as a Shooting Commando and its first Commander was Lt Col Karel Rood.

Operations[edit]

With the UDF[edit]

The Shooting Commando received its official status as a Commando in 1957 and in 1961 received its first Citizen Force members.

With the SADF[edit]

During this era, the unit was mainly used for area force protection, search and cordones as well as stock theft control assistance to the rural police.

Freedom of Entry[edit]

The Commando received the Freedom of Entry to the city of Vereeniging on 14 February 1976.

National Colours[edit]

On 16 August 1991, the commanding officer Cmdt J.C. Kruger, accepted the award of National Colours on behalf of the unit.

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]

On Friday 29 September 2006 Vereeniging Commando finally closed its doors when Lt Col J.C. Zelie handed the VMB keys over to the Department of Public Works.

Insignia[edit]

Insignia

Cravat
Flash
Tupper Flashes
Lanyard
Stable Belt
Unit Flag

Leadership[edit]

From Honorary Colonels To

1991 Col (Dr) M. Milani 2006

From Commanding Officers To

1921 Lt Col K. Rood 1929

1929 Lt Col E. Rood 1939

1939 Lt Col E.S. Rood 1946

1946 Cmdt J.J. Marais 1948

August 1949 Cmdt F.H.V. Lamont November 1949

1950 Cmdt G. de Bruyn-Nel 1967

1967 Cmdt F.P. van Niekerk 1977

1977 Cmdt W.A. de Klerk 1981

1981 Cmdt J.P. Arnold 1985

1985 Cmdt T.C. Pieterse 1989

1989 Cmdt J.C. Kruger 1994

1994 Cmdt B.M. Steyn 1997

1997 Lt Col J.C. Zelie 2006

From Regimental Sergeants Major To

1967 WO1 D.B. Oliver 1976

1977 WO1 W.A. Bobbert 1982

1982 WO1 M.L. van Stratten 1989

1989 WO1 P.F. Strachan 1991

1991 WO1 E. Jonker 1994

1994

WO1 D.J. Labuschagne

2006

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". Archived from the original on 6 December 2007. Retrieved 17 January 2008.
^ de Lange, Deon. "South Africa: Commandos Were 'Hostile to New SA'". Cape Argus. Retrieved 5 March 2015.