Krugersdorp Commando Explained

Unit Name:	Krugersdorp Commando
Allegiance:	Union of South Africa South Africa South Africa
Branch:
Type:	Infantry
Role:	Light infantry
Size:	One battalion
Command Structure:	South African Infantry Corps South African Army Territorial Reserve
Garrison:	Krugersdorp
Battles:	Second Boer War

Krugersdorp Commando or Kommando was a light infantry regiment from Krugersdorp district of the South African Army. It was active as a part of the South African Army Infantry Formation as well as the South African Territorial Reserve.

Unit history

Origin

The Krugersdorp Commando, was formed in 1898 as part of the Boer Commando.Commanders from Krugersdorp were Sarel Oosthuizen (1862 – 1900), Frederik Jacobus Potgieter (1858 – 1924) and Sarel Francois Alberts (1872 – 1954).^{[1] [2]}

With the Zuid Afrikaanse Republiek

Anglo Boer War

During the Anglo Boer War, this commando was involved in the following engagements:

• rearguard for Dundee
• Battle of Elandslaagte
• Battle of Modderspruit
• Battle of Colenso capturing General Buller's artillery
• Battle for Pietershoogte

During the guerilla phase of the war in the Western Transvaal, this commando was also involved in:

• Battle of Vlakfontein
• Battle of Moedswil
• Battle of Driefontein
• Battle of Yzerspruit
• Battle of Tweebosch
• Battle of Boschbult and
• Battle of Rooiwal

The battle of Nooitgedacht in the Krugersdorp area could have been a complete rout had the Boers not stopped to plunder the British camp.^[3]

With the Union Defence Force (UDF)

See also: Union Defence Force (South Africa). 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

See also: South African Defence Force. During this era, the unit was mainly engaged in area force protection, search and cordones and stock theft control assistance to the rural police.

The unit resorted under the command of the SADF's Group 17.

With the SANDF

See also: South African National Defence Force.

Disbandment

Krugersdorp Commando along with all other Commando units was disbanded in the 1990s after a decision by South African President Thabo Mbeki to disband all existing 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]

See also

• South African Commando System

Notes and References

1. A.E., Onze Krijgs-officieren. Album van portretten met levens-schetsen der Transvaalse Generaals en Kommandanten (Translated title: Our Military Officers. Album of portraits with life sketches of the Transvaal Generals and Commandants), Volksstem, Pretoria 1904. Kommandant S. F. Alberts on page 46. In Dutch. PDF on Wikimedia Commons.
2. Web site: Senator Sarel Francois Alberts . May 23, 2023 . geni.com . Geni. A MyHeritage Company . 28 September 2023 .
3. Web site: The West Rand During the Anglo-Boer War - eGGSA branch of the GSSA .
4. Web site: Rationalisation in the SANDF: The Next Challenge . 5 March 2015 . 1997. Col L B . van Stade . Institute for Security Studies . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160316204323/https://issafrica.org/pubs/asr/6no2/vanstade.html . 16 March 2016 .
5. Web site: About the Commando system . 2008-01-17 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20071206150052/http://www.saps.gov.za/statistics/reports/rural_safety/eng/pages/no2e.htm . 6 December 2007 .
6. Web site: de Lange. Deon. South Africa: Commandos Were 'Hostile to New SA'. Cape Argus. 5 March 2015. subscription .