Knysna Commando

Knysna 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.

Knysna Commando
Knysna Commando emblem
Founded1934 (1934)
DisbandedFebruary 14, 2003 (2003-02-14)
Country South Africa
Allegiance
Branch
TypeInfantry
RoleLight Infantry
SizeOne Battalion
Part ofSouth African Infantry Corps
Army Territorial Reserve, Group 4
Garrison/HQKnysna

History

Origin

Found at Kynsna around 1934. Members were issued originally with .303 rifles and used for area force protection such as search and cordons as well as stock theft control and police assistance.

With the SADF

During 1978 a rifle range was built on ground ceded by the Department of Forestry.

This unit resorted under the command of Group 4 at Oudsthoorn with Southern Cape Command up to 1986. The Group was subsequently transferred to Western Cape Command. The unit received its national colours at the Castle of Good Hope 14 September 1993.

Amalgamation

Outeniqua Commando was amalgamated with Knysna Commando and was renamed Garden Route Commando by June 1997.

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]

On 21 April 2003, this Commando laid up its colours at the Albatross Shellhole in Knysna for safekeeping.

Unit Insignia
SADF era Kynsna Commano insignia ver 2
SADF era Kynsna Commano insignia ver 2

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.{{cite web}}: 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.

See also


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