Vereeniging 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.
History
Origin
The Vereeniging Commando was formed in 1921 as a Shooting Commando and its first Commander was Lt Col Karel Rood.
Operations
With the UDF
The Shooting Commando received its official status as a Commando in 1957 and in 1961 received its first Citizen Force members.
With the SADF
During this era, the unit was mainly used for area force protection, search and cordones as well as stock theft control assistance to the rural police.
Freedom of Entry
The Commando received the Freedom of Entry to the city of Vereeniging on 14 February 1976.
National Colours
On 16 August 1991, the commanding officer Cmdt J.C. Kruger, accepted the award of National Colours on behalf of the unit.
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]
On Friday 29 September 2006 Vereeniging Commando finally closed its doors when Lt Col J.C. Zelie handed the VMB keys over to the Department of Public Works.
Insignia
Leadership
From | Honorary Colonels | To |
1991 | Col (Dr) M. Milani | 2006 |
From | Commanding Officers | To |
1921 | Lt Col K. Rood | 1929 |
1929 | Lt Col E. Rood | 1939 |
1939 | Lt Col E.S. Rood | 1946 |
1946 | Cmdt J.J. Marais | 1948 |
August 1949 | Cmdt F.H.V. Lamont | November 1949 |
1950 | Cmdt G. de Bruyn-Nel | 1967 |
1967 | Cmdt F.P. van Niekerk | 1977 |
1977 | Cmdt W.A. de Klerk | 1981 |
1981 | Cmdt J.P. Arnold | 1985 |
1985 | Cmdt T.C. Pieterse | 1989 |
1989 | Cmdt J.C. Kruger | 1994 |
1994 | Cmdt B.M. Steyn | 1997 |
1997 | Lt Col J.C. Zelie | 2006 |
From | Regimental Sergeants Major | To |
1967 | WO1 D.B. Oliver | 1976 |
1977 | WO1 W.A. Bobbert | 1982 |
1982 | WO1 M.L. van Stratten | 1989 |
1989 | WO1 P.F. Strachan | 1991 |
1991 | WO1 E. Jonker | 1994 |
1994 | WO1 D.J. Labuschagne | 2006 |
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". Archived from the original on 6 December 2007. 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) |
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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) |
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Group 8 (HQ East London) | |
Group 9 (HQ Pietermaritzburg) |
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Group 10 (HQ Montclair, Durban) | |
Group 11 (HQ Dundee) | |
Group 12 (HQ Ermelo) | |
Group 13 (collapsed into other groups) | |
Group 14 (HQ Pietersburg) |
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Group 15 (HQ Thaba Tshwane) | |
Group 16 (HQ Marievale) |
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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) |
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Group 39 (HQ Queenstown) | |
Group 40 (HQ Wingsfield) | |
Group 41 (HQ Primrose) | |
Group 42 (HQ Lenz) |
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Group 46 (HQ Umtata) |
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Walvis Bay Military Area | |
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