117 Battalion

111 Battalion was a motorised infantry unit of the South African Army.

117 Battalion
117 Battalion emblem
Active1993-1997
Country South Africa
Branch South African Army
TypeMotorised infantry
Part ofSouth African Army Infantry Corps
Garrison/HQSoekmekaar
Motto(s)Tiro sano
EquipmentBuffel APC, Samil 20
Insignia
Company level insignia
SA Motorised Infantry beret bar circa 1992
SA Motorised Infantry beret bar

History

Origin of the black battalions

By the late 1970s the South African government had abandoned its opposition to arming black soldiers.[1]

By early 1979, the government approved a plan to form a number of regional African battalions, each with a particular ethnic identity, which would serve in their homeland or under regional SADF commands.[2]

Location of the 100 Battalions in relation to their respective homelands

Development of the Lebowa Defence Force

Two additional Northern Sotho Battalions were established, the 117 and the 118. Troops for 117 SA Battalion were recruited from the self-governing territory of Lebowa.

Higher Command

117 Battalion initially resorted under the command of Group 45 but was eventually transferred to Group 14 at Pietersburg.[3]

SADF Group 14 emblem

The unit's HQ were situated in Soekmekaar with companies "deployed" in "steunpunte" or platoon base's throughout Lebowa. Alpha Company had its HQ in Seshego at the platoon one base, platoon two was based in Mankweng (close to the University of the North and Moria mountain of the ZCC) and platoon 3 was based in Ga-Matapo.

Disbandment

117 Battalion was converted into a training unit around 1997 and was finally amalgamated into 3 South African Infantry Battalion as part of the new SANDF.

Insignia
SADF era 117 Battalion insignia

Notes

    Peled, A. A question of Loyalty Military Manpower Policy in Multiethinic States, Cornell University Press, 1998, ISBN 0-8014-3239-1 Chapter 2: South Africa: From Exclusion to Inclusion

    References
    1. "Truth Commission - Special Report - TRC Final Report - Volume 2, Section 1, Chapter". sabctrc.saha.org.za.
    2. Nöthling, C. J.; Steyn, L. (1986). "The Role of Non-Whites in the South African Defence Force". Scientia Militaria: South African Journal of Military Studies. 16 (2): 47–54. doi:10.5787/16-2-457.
    3. Matloa, Abbey Oupa (February 2015). The formation of the SANDF: Integration experiences of former Transkei, Bophuthatswana, Venda and Ciskei Defence Force Members (PDF) (Thesis). University of South Africa.
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