The Mapungubwe Regiment {formerly Regiment Christiaan Beyers) is a reserve

infantry regiment Infantry is a military specialization which engages in ground combat on foot. Infantry generally consists of light infantry, mountain infantry, motorized infantry & mechanized infantry, airborne infantry, air assault infantry, and marine i ...

of the

South African Army The South African Army is the principal land warfare force of South Africa, a part of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), along with the South African Air Force, South African Navy and South African Military Health Service. ...

. It traces its history as far back as 1939, and fought in the Second World War, and the Border War after 1966. It was renamed in August 2019.

History

Origin

The regiment formed in 1939 as a second battalion of Regiment Botha. Regiment Botha was formed a few years earlier in 1934.

World War 2

Known as Second Botha Regiment or the Second Bothas, it underwent a number of name changes during the Second World War. In 1942 it was called

Regiment Botha The General Botha Regiment (formerly Regiment Botha) is a reserve infantry regiment of the South African Army. The Regiment was named after General Louis Botha, the first prime minister of South Africa. History The regiment was formed in Ermel ...

and in 1943 it was joined to

Regiment President Steyn A regiment is a military unit. Its role and size varies markedly, depending on the country, service and/or a specialisation. In Medieval Europe, the term "regiment" denoted any large body of front-line soldiers, recruited or conscripted ...

. During the war, the regiment was part of the 5th South African Brigade and took part in the East African campaign and then later in the western deserts of

Egypt Egypt ( ar, مصر , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a transcontinental country spanning the northeast corner of Africa and southwest corner of Asia via a land bridge formed by the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Mediter ...

and

Libya Libya (; ar, ليبيا, Lībiyā), officially the State of Libya ( ar, دولة ليبيا, Dawlat Lībiyā), is a country in the Maghreb region in North Africa. It is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to Egypt–Libya bo ...

Numerous names after World War Two and into the Border War

By 1946 it was called 59 Reserve Motor Service Company. In 1947 its name became 2 Regiment Botha. By 1951 it became Regiment Christiaan Beyers. By 1964 It was renamed Regiment Limpopo. Finally in the Late 1960s it reverted to Regiment Christiaan Beyers again. During the

South African Border War The South African Border War, also known as the Namibian War of Independence, and sometimes denoted in South Africa as the Angolan Bush War, was a largely asymmetric conflict that occurred in Namibia (then South West Africa), Zambia, and Angol ...

, 1966-1989, this citizen force regiment was regularly deployed for duties in the Republic as well as South West Africa.

Post 1994

The unit has taken part in peacekeeping duties in

Southern Sudan South Sudan (; din, Paguot Thudän), officially the Republic of South Sudan ( din, Paankɔc Cuëny Thudän), is a landlocked country in East Africa. It is bordered by Ethiopia, Sudan, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Con ...

and duties on the

Swaziland Eswatini ( ; ss, eSwatini ), officially the Kingdom of Eswatini and formerly named Swaziland ( ; officially renamed in 2018), is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. It is bordered by Mozambique to its northeast and South Africa to its no ...

border. On the 29 November 2013, the regiment received the freedom of the city of

Polokwane Polokwane (, meaning "Sanctuary" in Northern SothoPolokwane - The Heart of the Limpopo Province ...

. The regiment paraded through the city before having the scroll presented by the Mayor Freddy Greaver to the officer in command Lt Colonel Takalani Mphohoni. In August 2019, 52 Reserve Force units had their names changed to reflect the diverse military history of South Africa. Regiment Christiaan Beyers became the Mapungubwe Regiment, and have 3 years to design and implement new regimental insignia.

SANDF's Motorised Infantry

SANDF’s Motorised Infantry is transported mostly by Samil trucks, Mamba APC’s or other un-protected motor vehicles. Samil 20,50 and 100 trucks transport soldiers, towing guns, and carrying equipment and supplies. Samil trucks are all-wheel drive, in order to have vehicles that function reliably in extremes of weather and terrain. Motorised infantry have an advantage in mobility allowing them to move to critical sectors of the battlefield faster, allowing better response to enemy movements, as well as the ability to outmaneuver the enemy.

Regimental symbols

Previous Dress Insignia

SADF era Regiment Christiaan Beyers insignia ver 2

Current Dress Insignia

Unit colours

The unit has three sets of

colours Color (American English) or colour (British English) is the visual perceptual property deriving from the spectrum of light interacting with the photoreceptor cells of the eyes. Color categories and physical specifications of color are associa ...

: * the first is preserved by the

MOTH Moths are a paraphyletic group of insects that includes all members of the order Lepidoptera that are not butterflies, with moths making up the vast majority of the order. There are thought to be approximately 160,000 species of moth, many of w ...

in Pietersburg, * second unit colours were presented by General Rudolph Hiemstra in 1970, * a third national colour was presented by General Kat Liebenberg in 1989.

Battle honours

* East Africa * Sidi Rezegh * Gazala * Battle of Alamein * El Alamein Defence * Western Desert

References

{{Use dmy dates, date=June 2017 Infantry regiments of South Africa Military units and formations established in 1939 Military units and formations of South Africa in World War II Military units and formations of South Africa in the Border War