| Amatola Commando | |
|---|---|
 Amatola Commando emblem | |
| Active | 3 January 1878 – 2003 |
| Disbanded | 2003 |
| Country |  South Africa |
| Allegiance | |
| Branch | |
| Type | Infantry |
| Role | Light Infantry |
| Size | One Battalion |
| Part of | South African Infantry Corps Army Territorial Reserve |
| Garrison/HQ | Stutterheim |
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Amatola 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
Origin
Colony Frontier Wars
The Ngqika Rebellion
On 31 December 1877 martial law was proclaimed in the districts of Komgha and Stutterheim and on 3 January 1878 the Burgher Act was published which enabled government to call out burgher commandos.
Operations
With the Cape Colony
With the UDF
With the SADF
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. 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.
Unit Insignia
Leadership
| From | Honorary Colonels | To |
| From | Commanding Officer | To |
| From | Regimental Sergeant Major | To |
References
- 152-637-1-PB.pdf
- Makay, Sue. "Grahamstown Journal 1878 - 3 - July to September eGGSA Newspaper Extracts". eGGSA. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
- Col L B van Stade (1997). "Rationalisation in the SANDF: The Next Challenge". Institute for Security Studies. Archived from the original on 16 March 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
- "About the Commando system". Archived from the original on 6 December 2007. Retrieved 17 January 2008.
- de Lange, Deon. "South Africa: Commandos Were 'Hostile to New SA'". Cape Argus. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
See also
| South African Commandos | |
|---|---|
| South African Army, South African Commando System | |
| Group 1 (HQ Kelvin) | |
| Group 2 (HQ Oudtshoorn) |
|
| Group 3 (collapsed into other groups) | |
| Group 4 (collapsed into other groups) | |
| Group 5 (collapsed into other groups) | |
| Group 6 (HQ Port Elizabeth) | |
| Group 7 (HQ Grahamstown) |
|
| Group 8 (HQ East London) | |
| Group 9 (HQ Pietermaritzburg) |
|
| Group 10 (HQ Montclair, Durban) | |
| Group 11 (HQ Dundee) | |
| Group 12 (HQ Ermelo) | |
| Group 13 (collapsed into other groups) | |
| Group 14 (HQ Pietersburg) |
|
| Group 15 (HQ Thaba Tshwane) | |
| Group 16 (HQ Marievale) |
|
| Group 17 (HQ Midvaal) | |
| Group 18 (HQ Doornkop) | |
| Group 19 (collapsed into other groups) | |
| Group 20 (HQ Mmabatho) | |
| Group 21 (collapsed into other groups) | |
| Group 22 (HQ Diskobolos) | |
| Group 23 (HQ Upington) | |
| Group 24 (HQ Kroonstad) | |
| Group 25 (HQ Bethlehem) | |
| Group 26 (HQ, Jacobsdal) | |
| Group 27 (HQ Eshowe) | |
| Group 28 (collapsed into other groups) | |
| Group 29 (collapsed into other groups) | |
| Group 30 (HQ Potchefstroom) | |
| Group 31 (HQ Wellington) | |
| Group 32 (HQ Graaff-Reinet) | |
| Group 33 (HQ Nelspruit) | |
| Group 34 (HQ Welkom) | |
| Group 35 (HQ Bloemfontein) | |
| Group 36 (HQ Tempe/Ladybrand) |
|
| Group 39 (HQ Queenstown) | |
| Group 40 (HQ Wingsfield) | |
| Group 41 (HQ Primrose) | |
| Group 42 (HQ Lenz) |
|
| Group 46 (HQ Umtata) |
|
| Walvis Bay Military Area | |
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