Bloemfontein City Commando
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Bloemfontein City Commando | |
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![]() Bloemfontein City Commando emblem | |
Country | ![]() |
Allegiance | |
Branch | |
Type | Infantry |
Role | Light Infantry |
Size | One Battalion |
Part of | South African Infantry Corps Army Territorial Reserve, Group 35 |
Garrison/HQ | Bloemfontein |
Motto(s) | Floreat (Flourish) |
Bloemfontein City 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
Origin
This unit's predecessor had its origin around 1848 when Andries Pretorius called up a commando of about a 1000 men from the region of Bloemfontein, Caledon River and Winburg to defend the area against British ambitions and Basotho cattle theft.
The commando was reactivated formally around 1948. By 1956 however the unit was divided into two separate commandos one for the city and one for the rural areas, Bloemfontein District Commando.
By 1978, Bloemfontein City Commando was mainly made up of colored employees of the Musgrave weapons factory and by 1980 had a compliment of around 30 men led by a white officer.[1]
Operations
The unit conducted several tours in the South West African operational area around 1976 to 1982, but was mainly responsible for internal security and protection especially during the unrests in the 1980s.
Disbandment
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
![SADF era Bloemfontein City Commando insignia](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f2/SADF_era_Bloemfontein_City_Commando_insignia.jpg/500px-SADF_era_Bloemfontein_City_Commando_insignia.jpg)
Leadership
From | Honorary Colonels | To |
From | Commanding Officer | To |
From | Regimental Sergeant Major | To |
See also
References
- ^ http://www.musgraverifles.co.za/
- ^ 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}}
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{{cite web}}
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suggested) (help) - ^ de Lange, Deon. "South Africa: Commandos Were 'Hostile to New SA'". Cape Argus. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
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South African Commandos | |
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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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