Sasolburg Regiment 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.
History
Origin
This unit was originally part of the Heilbron Commando before forming the Sasolburg Commando in February 1962.
Operations
With the SADF
Where the SASOL Commando was responsible for the SASOL and NATREF refineries, the Sasolburg Commando was responsible for all other factories and installations in the larger district.
The development of industries such as the African Explosives and Chemical Industries (AECI) and Karbochem increased the responsibility on the Sasolburg Commando as workers of these industries with Citizen Force Camp requirements were also transferred to the Sasolburg Commando.
From Commando to Regiment
The Sasolburg Commando was reclassified as a regiment in June 1985, even though its expanded responsibilities had existed since 4 February 1985. This new Regiment exercised its Freedom of Entry into Sasolburg for the first time on 25 October 1986.
The counter-insurgency battalion
In 1986 a decision was made that the Regiment would also be reclassed as a counter insurgency battalion and meant that it could be utilised in the black townships for riot control as well.[1]
Command
The unit was initially under the command of Group 17 but was transferred to Group 42 in 1991, so that several units could be merged and be used in the greater Witwatersrand.
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/be/SADF_Regiment_Sasolburg_higher_commands.png)
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.[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]
Leadership
From | Honorary Colonels | To |
From | Commanding Officers | To |
nd | Commandant Johannes J Retief* | nd |
From | Regimental Sergeants Major | To |
- last OC Sasolburg Commando, first OC Regiment Sasolburg.
Unit Insignia
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d5/SADF_Regiment_Sasolburg_insignia.png/600px-SADF_Regiment_Sasolburg_insignia.png)
References
- ^ http://dspace.nwu.ac.za/bitstream/handle/10394/14075/Fourie_SM_Chapter6.pdf?sequence=7 [bare URL PDF]
- ^ 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.
See also
South African Commandos | |
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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 | |
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Annuals36
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Bulbs, Corms & Tubers41
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Ferns27
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Fruits3
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Garden Plants23
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Grasses26
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Herb17
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Insects1
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Mammals1
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Midwest Native Plants0
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Northeast Native Plants112
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Perennials123
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Rose1
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Shrubs47
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Trees112
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Tropical Plants53
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Upland Birds5
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Vines18
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Viola Tricolor1
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Water Gardening & Plants9
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Waterfowl0
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Wetland Birds0
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Wetland Plants4
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Wildbirds172
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Wildflowers1
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Woodland Plants29
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