Winterberg Commando
| Winterberg Commando | |
|---|---|
 Winterberg Commando emblem | |
| Active | 1948- |
| Country |  South Africa |
| Allegiance | |
| Branch | |
| Type | Infantry |
| Role | Light Infantry |
| Size | One Battalion |
| Part of | South African Infantry Corps Army Territorial Reserve |
| Garrison/HQ | Winterberg (Eastern Cape) |
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Winterberg 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 Winterberg Commando was founded in Adelaide, Eastern Cape in 1948.
Operations[edit]
With the UDF[edit]
By 1940, rifle associations were under control of the National Reserve of Volunteers. These rifle associations were re-designated as commandos by 1948.
With the SADF[edit]
The units area of responsibility was significantly large on the outset, and two further commandos namely Katberg and Midland Commandos were developed. Katberg Commando was again reincorporated with the Winterberg Commando in 1979.
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.
With the independence of Ciskei, the previous Katberg Commando area was incorporated with the new Homelands territory.[1]
Freedom of Adelaide[edit]
The unit received the Freedom of Adelaide in October 1986.
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.[2][3] 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.[4]
Unit Insignia[edit]
Leadership[edit]
| From | Honorary Colonels | To |
| From | Commanding Officers | To |
| 1970 | Kommandant A.C. Lombard | 1973 |
| From | Regimental Sergeants Major | To |
References[edit]
- ^ Paratus Magazine page 5 July 1989
- ^ Col L B van Stade, Senior Staff Officer Rationalisation, SANDF (1997). "Rationalisation in the SANDF: The Next Challenge". Institute for Security Studies. 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.
See also[edit]
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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