Witwatersrand Command Explained

Witwatersrand Command
Location:The Drill Hall,[1] Johannesburg, South Africa
Type:Command (military formation)

The Witwatersrand Command was a Command of the South African Army. It was one of the ten regional commands, which, with the Walvis Bay Military Area, made up the Territorial Force.

History

Origin

Based in Johannesburg, it was responsible for the security of the region, forming the primary level of command for military operations in support of the Police. It also provided logistic, administrative and service support to units and formations operating in its area of responsibility.[2] [3]

When 6th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment SAA became operational in 1966 with its headquarters at Brakpan, it was originally administratively responsible to Headquarters Witwatersrand Command, but was later transferred to I South African Corps.

In 1987, the command headquarters installation was the target of a bomb by Umkhonto we Sizwe operative Hein Grosskopf.[4]

Amalgamation with Northern Transvaal Command into Gauteng Command

Groups and Commando Units

Group 16 (Marievale)

Group 17 (Midvaal)

Group 18 (Doornkop)

Group 41 (Primrose)

Group 42 (Lenz)

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Drill Hall - Historical Snippets. heritageportal.co.za. 24 December 2014. quoting Col D.R. Smitherman
  2. Web site: Unit Profiles: Witwatersrand Command. Warinangola.com. 24 December 2014.
  3. Web site: Leër Kommandemente - Army Commands. sadf.info. 24 December 2014.
  4. Web site: Hein Grosskopf recounts 1987 bomb attack. news24.com archives. NASPERS. 21 November 2000.