| Unit Name: | Modderfontein Commando |
| Allegiance: | |
| Branch: | |
| Type: | Infantry |
| Role: | Light Infantry |
| Size: | One Battalion |
| Command Structure: | South African Infantry Corps Army Territorial Reserve |
| Garrison: | Modderfontein, Johannesburg |
Modderfontein 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.
Modderfontein Commando was tasked with the protection of the country's biggest manufacturer of explosives.
In 1969, the Modderfontein Dynamite Factory was placed under the protection of the Republic Defence Force(SADF).Before that era, the factory was protected by a unit of the National Volunteer Battalion (NVB) that was made up of "keymen" and other volunteers.In 1946 the units were stood down.
The commando was initially formed as an urban commando but was restructured in the early 1980s into an industrial commando tasked with protecting the complex at Modderfontein. Manpower for the commando was largely drawn from men working for AECI who had a military commitment.
The Commando was structured into a headquarter with four companies.
This unit, along with all other Commando units, was disbanded after a decision by South African President Thabo Mbeki.[1] [2] According to the Minister of Safety and Security, Charles Nqakula,[3] the Commando system was phased out between 2003 and 2008 "because of the role it played in the apartheid era."
South Africa