Bloemfontein District Commando

Bloemfontein District 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.

Bloemfontein District Commando
Bloemfontein District Commando
DisbandedMarch 14, 2003 (2003-03-14)
Country South Africa
Allegiance
Branch
TypeInfantry
RoleLight Infantry
SizeOne Battalion
Part ofSouth African Infantry Corps
Army Territorial Reserve, Group 35
Garrison/HQBloemfontein
Motto(s)Interritus (Fearless)

History

Part of the Bloemfontein City Commando

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, Bloemfontein City Commando and one for the rural areas.[1]

With the SADF

As a rural commando this unit was now mainly tasked with area force protection, search and cordones as well as stock theft control assistance to the police.

The unit resorted under the command of Group 35.

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 District Commando insignia
SADF era Bloemfontein District Commando insignia

Leadership
Leadership
From Honorary Colonels To
From Commanding Officer To
From Regimental Sergeant Major To

References
  1. Strauss, A.Journal for contemporary history, volume 30 issue 3, 2005
  2. 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.
  3. "About the Commando system". Archived from the original on 6 December 2007. Retrieved 17 January 2008.
  4. de Lange, Deon. "South Africa: Commandos Were 'Hostile to New SA'". Cape Argus. Retrieved 5 March 2015.

See also
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