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Amatola Commando

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Amatola Commando
Amatola Commando emblem
Active3 January 1878 – 2003
Disbanded2003
Country South Africa
Allegiance
Branch
TypeInfantry
RoleLight Infantry
SizeOne Battalion
Part ofSouth African Infantry Corps
Army Territorial Reserve
Garrison/HQStutterheim

Amatola 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

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Origin

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Colony Frontier Wars

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The Ngqika Rebellion
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On 31 December 1877 martial law was proclaimed in the districts of Komgha and Stutterheim and on 3 January 1878 the Burgher Act was published which enabled government to call out burgher commandos.[1][2]

Operations

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With the Cape Colony

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With the UDF

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With the SADF

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During this era, the unit was mainly used for area force protection, search and cordons as well as stock theft control assistance to the rural police.

With the SANDF

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Disbandment
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This unit, along with all other Commando units was disbanded after a decision by South African President Thabo Mbeki to disband all Commando Units.[3][4] 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.[5]

Unit Insignia

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SADF era Amatola Commando insignia
SADF era Amatola Commando insignia

Leadership

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

References

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  1. ^ 152-637-1-PB.pdf
  2. ^ Makay, Sue. "Grahamstown Journal 1878 - 3 - July to September eGGSA Newspaper Extracts". eGGSA. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
  3. ^ Col L B van Stade (1997). "Rationalisation in the SANDF: The Next Challenge". Institute for Security Studies. Archived from the original on 16 March 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
  4. ^ "About the Commando system". Archived from the original on 6 December 2007. Retrieved 17 January 2008.
  5. ^ de Lange, Deon. "South Africa: Commandos Were 'Hostile to New SA'". Cape Argus. Retrieved 5 March 2015.

See also

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