| Pongola Commando | |
|---|---|
 Pongola Commando emblem | |
| Disbanded | February 14, 2003 (21 years ago) (2003-02-14) |
| Country |  South Africa |
| Allegiance | |
| Branch | |
| Type | Infantry |
| Role | Light Infantry |
| Size | One Battalion |
| Part of | South African Infantry Corps Army Territorial Reserve |
| Garrison/HQ | Pongola |
Pongola Commando was a light infantry regiment of the South African Army and was based in the town of Pongola. It formed part of the South African Army Infantry Formation as well as the South African Territorial Reserve.
History
Origin
This unit was created by merging the Pongola Company of the Piet Retief Commando with the North Coast Commando on 17 October 1970.
Operations
With the SADF
Under the SADF, the unit was mainly engaged in area force protection, search and cordones as well as stock theft control assistance to the rural police.
During severe Tropical Storm Domoina in 1984, the unit provided civil protection support through establishing a communication network, by distributing much needed food and emergency supplies, and a range of other civil defence measures.
With the SANDF
Disbandment
This unit, along with all other Commando units, was disbanded after a decision by South African President Thabo Mbeki. A variety of reasons were given for the Commando system to be phased out between 2003 and 2008. This included "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 Officers | To |
| 1970 | Comdt N.J. Robertse | 1978 |
| 1978 | Comdt J. Bezuidenhout | 1980 |
| August 1980 | Comdt L.J.S. Changuion SM DTM | March 1985 |
| 1985 | Comdt C. Rudolph | 1989 |
| 1989 | Comdt D. Barnard | ? |
| From | Regimental Sergeants Major | To |
The unit's commanding officers listed above generally held the rank of commandant.
References
- ^ Els, Paul (14 October 2007). "Pongola Commando". War in Angola. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
- van Stade, Col L B (1997). "Rationalisation in the SANDF: The Next Challenge". Senior Staff Officer Rationalisation, SANDF. Institute for Security Studies. Archived from the original on 16 March 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
- "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.
See also
| South African Commandos | |
|---|---|
| South African Army, South African Commando System | |
| Group 1 (HQ Kelvin) | |
| Group 2 (HQ Oudtshoorn) |
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| 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) |
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| 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) |
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| Group 39 (HQ Queenstown) | |
| Group 40 (HQ Wingsfield) | |
| Group 41 (HQ Primrose) | |
| Group 42 (HQ Lenz) |
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| Group 46 (HQ Umtata) |
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| Walvis Bay Military Area | |
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