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Umkomaas Commando
Umkomaas Commando emblem
Active	1963-
Country	South Africa
Allegiance	Republic of South Africa  Republic of South Africa
Branch	South African Army  South African Army
Type	Infantry
Role	Light Infantry
Size	One Battalion
Part of	South African Infantry Corps Army Territorial Reserve, Group 9
Garrison/HQ	Richmond, Pietermaritzburg

Umkomaas 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

Umkomaas Commando was activated when it inherited the urban members of the Pietermaritzburg Rifle Commando in 1963.

Operations

With the SADF

Initially, the Umkomaas Commando was headquartered in Ixopo under Kmdt J.R.Guy. It consisted of 3 companies with A Company being based at the Drill Hall in Pietermaritzburg, B Company based in Eston-Mid Illovo and C Company based in Ixopo.

Umkomaas Commando shared close affinity with Natalia Regiment. Its original HQ (post 1989) was in Richmond where it shared accommodation with Group 9 in the Old Gaol Building.

The unit was later transferred to Pietermaritzburg and allocated its own HQ in the Oribi Village.

By July 1981 the unit moved back to Richmond, but by 1991 it had returned to the Oribi Village in Pietermaritzburg.

Training and Operations

The unit held annual training camps and maintained a rifle shooting range on the farm Dawn Valley near Ixopo from 1963 to 1968, and near Shongweni and Hammarsdal from 1969 to 1975. From 1976 the unit deployed a company to South West Africa for border duty.

Areas of Responsibility

Umkomaas Commando provided quick reaction patrols in support of the South African Police during unrest in the Natal Midlands. By 1979 the units area of responsibility had changed and new borders set.

A new concept was established in the early 1980s and Industrial platoons were raised. Two of these now existed in the units original area of responsibility: at the Huletts Aluminium factory and the Pietermaritzburg Municipality.

National Colours

Umkomaas Commando was given its National Colours in June 1991.

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

• Cmdt J. Guy 1963-1969
• Cmdt G.A. Bowles 1969-1977
• Cmdt I. Deetlefs 1977-1981
• Cmdt E.B. Herbert 1981-1986
• Cmdt J.E. Butler 1986-1989
• Cmdt M.T. Staniland 1987-1991
• Lt Col F.C. McHattie 1992-

References

1. 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)
2. "About the Commando system". Retrieved 17 January 2008.
3. de Lange, Deon. "South Africa: Commandos Were 'Hostile to New SA'". Cape Argus. Retrieved 5 March 2015.

See also

• South African Commando System

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