| Unit Name: | Amatola Commando |
| Dates: | 3 January 18782003 |
| Allegiance: | |
| Branch: | |
| Type: | Infantry |
| Role: | Light Infantry |
| Size: | One Battalion |
| Command Structure: | South African Infantry Corps Army Territorial Reserve |
| Garrison: | Stutterheim |
| Disbanded: | 2003 |
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.
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]
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.
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]
South Africa