Umvoti Commando
| Umvoti Commando | |
|---|---|
 Umvoti Commando emblem | |
| Active | 1952- |
| Country |  South Africa |
| Allegiance | |
| Branch | |
| Type | Infantry |
| Role | Light Infantry |
| Size | One Battalion |
| Part of | Natal Command Group 9 |
| Garrison/HQ | Greytown |
| Motto(s) | "Popula Nostro Servire" We serve our people |
Umvoti Commando was a Commando unit of the South African Army. It formed part of the South African Army Infantry Formation as well as the South African Territorial Reserve.
History
[edit]Origin
[edit]Rifle Association
[edit]The forerunner of Umvoti Commando was a unit raised in 1949 in the Greytown district as sub unit of the Zululand Skiet Kommando under command of Captain A.W. Rossouw.
Operations
[edit]With the UDF
[edit]Umvoti Commando was named on 5 August 1952 after a requirement to split from the Zululand Skiet Kommando was approved.
With the SADF
[edit]The unit was stationed in Greytown since its beginning and moved to a purpose built HQ in 1978.
Area of responsibility
[edit]The unit was responsible for Umvoti, Kranskop, New Hannover and Msinga magisterial districts.
National Colours
[edit]The unit was awarded its National Colours on 29 June 1991.
With the SANDF
[edit]Disbandment
[edit]This unit, along with all other Commando units was disbanded after a decision by South African President Thabo Mbeki to disband all Commando Units.[1][2] 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.[3]
Unit Insignia
[edit]
Leadership
[edit]- Cmdt J.F. van Rooyen 1952-1963
- Cmdt W.G. Redinger 1963-1966
- Cmdt K. du Preez 1966-1967
- Cmdt J. van Rooyen 1967-1969
- Cmdt J Menne 1969-1971
- Cmdt W.G. Redinger 1971-1978
- Cmdt G.E. Lauterbach 1978-1988
- Cmdt W.W. Fourie 1988-
References
[edit]- ^ Col L B van Stade, Senior Staff Officer Rationalisation, SANDF (1997). "Rationalisation in the SANDF: The Next Challenge". Institute for Security Studies. Archived from the original on 16 March 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "About the Commando system". Retrieved 17 January 2008.
- ^ de Lange, Deon. "South Africa: Commandos Were 'Hostile to New SA'". Cape Argus. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
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