| Umvoti Commando | |
|---|---|
 Umvoti Commando emblem | |
| Active | 1952- |
| Country | 
South Africa |
| Allegiance | |
| Branch | |
| Type | Infantry |
| Role | Light Infantry |
| Size | One Battalion |
| Part of | Natal Command Group 9 |
| Garrison/HQ | Greytown |
| Motto(s) | "Popula Nostro Servire" We serve our people |
Umvoti Commando was a Commando unit of the South African Army. It formed part of the South African Army Infantry Formation as well as the South African Territorial Reserve.
History
Origin
Rifle Association
The forerunner of Umvoti Commando was a unit raised in 1949 in the Greytown district as sub unit of the Zululand Skiet Kommando under command of Captain A.W. Rossouw.
Operations
With the UDF
Umvoti Commando was named on 5 August 1952 after a requirement to split from the Zululand Skiet Kommando was approved.
With the SADF
The unit was stationed in Greytown since its beginning and moved to a purpose built HQ in 1978.
Area of responsibility
The unit was responsible for Umvoti, Kranskop, New Hannover and Msinga magisterial districts.
National Colours
The unit was awarded its National Colours on 29 June 1991.
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]
Unit Insignia
Leadership
- Cmdt J.F. van Rooyen 1952-1963
- Cmdt W.G. Redinger 1963-1966
- Cmdt K. du Preez 1966-1967
- Cmdt J. van Rooyen 1967-1969
- Cmdt J Menne 1969-1971
- Cmdt W.G. Redinger 1971-1978
- Cmdt G.E. Lauterbach 1978-1988
- Cmdt W.W. Fourie 1988-
References
-
^ 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) - ^ "About the Commando system". Retrieved 17 January 2008.
- ^ de Lange, Deon. "South Africa: Commandos Were 'Hostile to New SA'". Cape Argus. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
South African Commandos | |
|---|---|
| Group 1 (HQ Kelvin) | |
| Group 2 (HQ Oudtshoorn) |
|
| Group 3 (collapsed into other groups) | |
| Group 4 (collapsed into other groups) | |
| Group 5 (collapsed into other groups) | |
| Group 6 (HQ Port Elizabeth) | |
| Group 7 (HQ Grahamstown) |
|
| Group 8 (HQ East London) | |
| Group 9 (HQ Pietermaritzburg) |
|
| Group 10 (HQ Montclair, Durban) | |
| Group 11 (HQ Dundee) | |
| Group 12 (HQ Ermelo) | |
| Group 13 (collapsed into other groups) | |
| Group 14 (HQ Pietersburg) |
|
| Group 15 (HQ Thaba Tshwane) | |
| Group 16 (HQ Marievale) |
|
| Group 17 (HQ Midvaal) | |
| Group 18 (HQ Doornkop) | |
| Group 19 (collapsed into other groups) | |
| Group 20 (HQ Mmabatho) | |
| Group 21 (collapsed into other groups) | |
| Group 22 (HQ Diskobolos) | |
| Group 23 (HQ Upington) | |
| Group 24 (HQ Kroonstad) | |
| Group 25 (HQ Bethlehem) | |
| Group 26 (HQ, Jacobsdal) | |
| Group 27 (HQ Eshowe) | |
| Group 28 (collapsed into other groups) | |
| Group 29 (collapsed into other groups) | |
| Group 30 (HQ Potchefstroom) | |
| Group 31 (HQ Wellington) | |
| Group 32 (HQ Graaff-Reinet) | |
| Group 33 (HQ Nelspruit) | |
| Group 34 (HQ Welkom) | |
| Group 35 (HQ Bloemfontein) | |
| Group 36 (HQ Tempe/ Ladybrand) |
|
| Group 39 (HQ Queenstown) | |
| Group 40 (HQ Wingsfield) | |
| Group 41 (HQ Primrose) | |
| Group 42 (HQ Lenz) |
|
| Group 46 (HQ Umtata) |
|
| Walvis Bay Military Area | |
 | This South African military article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |