Brakpan 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.
| Brakpan Commando | |
|---|---|
 Brakpan Commando emblem | |
| Founded | 1922 |
| Disbanded | February 14, 2003 |
| Country |  South Africa |
| Allegiance | |
| Branch | |
| Type | Infantry |
| Role | Light Infantry |
| Size | One Battalion |
| Part of | South African Infantry Corps Army Territorial Reserve |
| Garrison/HQ | Brakpan, Gauteng |
History
editOrigin
editThis unit was established in 1922 during the Rand Revolt as a rebel commando under "General" R.B. Waterston to help the striking miners.[1]: 123
Operations
editRebel Commando
editDuring the revolt, this commando massacred 8 opposing mine officials and special constables. The leader at that time, John Garsworthy[2] was sentenced to death but this was later commuted.
With the UDF
editThe commando that had started as a communist rebel movement was eventually incorporated as a normal commando of the Union Defence Force.[3]
With the SADF
editDuring the SADF period, this unit resorted under Group 16 in Marievale.
During this era, the unit was mainly engaged in area force protection, search and cordons as well as other assistance to the local police.
As an urban unit, this commando was also tasked with protecting strategic facilities as well as quelling township riots especially during the State of Emergency in the 1980s.
With the SANDF
editDisbandment
editThis unit, along with all other Commando units was disbanded after a decision by South African President Thabo Mbeki to disband all Commando Units.[4][5] 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.[6]
Unit Insignia
edit
Leadership
edit| From | Honorary Colonels | To |
| From | Commanding Officer | To |
| 1982 | Lt Col A. W. Nel | 2002 |
| 2002 | Lt Col R.N. Steele | 2005 |
| From | Regimental Sergeant Major | To |
| 2002 | WO1 L. Brooke MMM JCD | nd |
| 2002 | WO1 A.B. Boone MMM JCD | 2004 |
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ Van der Poel, Jean (2007). "Selections from the Smuts Papers: Volume 5, September 1919-November 1934". In Hancock, William Keith (ed.). Volume 5 of Selections from the Smuts Papers (reprint, annotated ed.). Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521033688.
- ^ "Rand Rebellion 1922". South African History Online. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
- ^ "OCTOBER 2007 newsletter - Cape Town - South African Military History Society - Title page". samilitaryhistory.org. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
- ^ van Stade, Col L B (1997). "Rationalisation in the SANDF: The Next Challenge". Institute for Security Studies. Archived from the original on 16 March 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
- ^ "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.