Potchefstroom Commando

Potchefstroom Commando
Potchefstroom Commando
	Potchefstroom Commando emblem
Country	South Africa
Allegiance	Zuid Afrikaanse Republiek; Union of South Africa; Republic of South Africa; Republic of South Africa;
Branch	South African Army; South African Army;
Type	Infantry
Role	Light Infantry
Size	One Battalion
Part of	South African Infantry Corps; Army Territorial Reserve, Group 30
Garrison/HQ	Potchefstroom

Potchefstroom 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

Operations

With the Zuid Afrikaanse Republiek

At the beginning of the Second Boer War, this units commandant was A.P.J. Cronjé, who was later replaced by P.J. Liebenberg.

The commando had an initial strength of 1,249 and fought at :

Ottoshoop,
the Siege of Mafeking,
the Battle of Modder River,
the Battle of Magersfontein,
the Battle of Poplar Grove,
the Battle of Donkerhoek,
the Battle of Bronkhorstspruit,
the Battle of Bergendal,
the Brandwater Basin,
the 1st de Wet hunt, at Gatsrand and at
Hartbeesfontein.^[1]

With the UDF

By 1902 all Commando remnants were under British military control and disarmed.

By 1912, however previous Commando members could join shooting associations.

By 1940, such commandos were under control of the National Reserve of Volunteers.

These commandos were formally reactivated by 1948.

With the SADF

The unit resorted under the command of Group 30.

The Old First Prison was used as this commandos HQ till 1998.

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

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]

Unit Insignia

SADF era Potchefstroom Commando insignia

Leadership

Leadership
From	Honorary Colonels	To
XXX	XXX	XXX
From	Commanding Officers	To
1899	Commandant Mathinus Johanes Wolmarans	nd
From	Regimental Sergeants Major	To
XXX	XXX MMM JCD	XXX

References

^ Hall, Darrell (1999). The Hall Handbook of the Anglo-Boer War, 1899-1902. Pietermaritzburg: University of Natal Press. pp. 13, 17. ISBN 9780869809495.
^ 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.