118 Battalion

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

118 Battalion
118 Battalion emblem
Country South Africa
Branch South African Army
TypeMotorised infantry
Part ofSouth African Army Infantry Corps
Garrison/HQLebowakgomo old fire station Northern Transvaal, Limpopo Province
Motto(s)Bogale
EquipmentBuffel APC, Samil 20
Commanders
OCCommandant M. Scheepers
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 within the SADF.[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 118 SA Battalion were recruited from the self-governing territory of Lebowa.

Higher Command

118 Battalion initially resorted under the command of Group 45 then Group 14 from Potgietersrus. This command was eventually changed to Group 29 with amalgamation.

SADF Group 14 emblem

[3]

Deployments

118 Battalion was utilised to patrol the Lebowa and parts of the Botswana border. At some stage the unit was also stationed at Mtubatuba in Kwa Zulu Natal for border patrols in that region.

Disbandment

2006.

Insignia
SADF era 118 Battalion insignia

Notes

    References
    1. "Truth Commission - Special Report - TRC Final Report - Volume 2, Section 1, Chapter". sabctrc.saha.org.za. Retrieved 2022-02-04.
    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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