Kruger National Park Commando

Kruger National Park 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.

Kruger National Park Commando
Kruger National Park Commando
Country South Africa
Allegiance
Branch
TypeInfantry
RoleLight Infantry
SizeOne Battalion
Part ofSouth African Infantry Corps
Army Territorial Reserve
Garrison/HQKruger National Park

History

Origin

Operations

With the SADF

Kruger National Park Commando (KNPC) was based in the Kruger National Park and had 4 small base camps situated at:

  • Crocodile Bridge,
  • Sandriver near Skukuza,
  • Shishangane near Nwanetsi and
  • Masakosapan near Shingwedzi.

Each base was more or less of platoon strength with Sandriver as the headquarters.

The main role of the KNPC was daily foot patrols from south to north interdicting refugees and smugglers from Mozambique.

With the SANDF
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]

Operation Corona

The role the KNPC fulfilled was eventually reactivated in the SANDF by Operation Corona.[4]

Unit Insignia
SADF era Kruger National Park Commando insignia

Leadership

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.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. "About the Commando system". Archived from the original on 6 December 2007. Retrieved 17 January 2008.
  3. de Lange, Deon. "South Africa: Commandos Were 'Hostile to New SA'". Cape Argus. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
  4. http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=47527:two-op-corona-busts-in-a-week-for-newly-deployed-johannesburg-regiment&catid=87:border-security&Itemid=188

See also
  • South African Commando System


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