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

Origin

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.

Umvoti Commando was named on the 5th August 1952 afeter a requirement to split from the Zululand Skiet Kommando was approved. The unit was stationed in Greytown since its beginning and moved to a purpose built HQ in 1978.

Area of responsibility

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

National Colours

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

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.[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

Leadership

  • 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

  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.
  2. ↑ "About the Commando system". Retrieved 2008-01-17.
  3. ↑ de Lange, Deon. "South Africa: Commandos Were 'Hostile to New SA'". Cape Argus. Retrieved 5 March 2015. (Subscription required (help)).


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.