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Umvoti Commando

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Umvoti Commando
Umvoti Commando emblem
Active1952-
Country South Africa
Allegiance
Branch
TypeInfantry
RoleLight Infantry
SizeOne Battalion
Part ofNatal Command Group 9
Garrison/HQGreytown
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

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Origin

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Rifle Association

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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

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With the UDF

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Umvoti Commando was named on 5 August 1952 after a requirement to split from the Zululand Skiet Kommando was approved.

With the SADF

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The unit was stationed in Greytown since its beginning and moved to a purpose built HQ in 1978.

Area of responsibility
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The unit was responsible for Umvoti, Kranskop, New Hannover and Msinga magisterial districts.

National Colours
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The unit was awarded its National Colours on 29 June 1991.

With the SANDF

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Disbandment
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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

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SADF era Umvoti Commando insignia
SADF era Umvoti Commando insignia

Leadership

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  • 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

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  1. ^ 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)
  2. ^ "About the Commando system". Retrieved 17 January 2008.
  3. ^ de Lange, Deon. "South Africa: Commandos Were 'Hostile to New SA'". Cape Argus. Retrieved 5 March 2015.