Potchefstroom Commando Explained

Unit Name:	Potchefstroom 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 Army Territorial Reserve, Group 30
Garrison:	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

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]

See also

• South African Commando System

Notes and References

1. Book: Hall, Darrell. The Hall Handbook of the Anglo-Boer War, 1899-1902. University of Natal Press. 1999. 9780869809495. Pietermaritzburg. 13, 17.
2. Web site: Rationalisation in the SANDF: The Next Challenge . 5 March 2015 . 1997 . Col L B van Stade, Senior Staff Officer Rationalisation, SANDF . Institute for Security Studies . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160316204323/https://issafrica.org/pubs/asr/6no2/vanstade.html . 16 March 2016 .
3. Web site: About the Commando system. 17 January 2008.
4. Web site: de Lange. Deon. South Africa: Commandos Were 'Hostile to New SA'. Cape Argus. 5 March 2015. subscription .