Umvoti Commando was a Commando unit 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 formed part of the South African Army Infantry Formation as well as the South African Territorial Reserve.

History

Origin

Rifle Association

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

With the UDF

Umvoti Commando was named on 5 August 1952 after a requirement to split from the Zululand Skiet Kommando was approved.

With the SADF

The unit was stationed in Greytown since its beginning and moved to a purpose built HQ in 1978.

=Area of responsibility

= The unit was responsible for Umvoti, Kranskop, New Hannover and Msinga magisterial districts.

=National Colours

= The unit was awarded its National Colours on 29 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 Charles Nqakula (born 13 September 1942) is a South African politician who served as Minister of Defence from September 2008 to 2009. He also served as Minister for Safety and Security from May 2002 to September 2008. Nqakula is married to fo ...

Unit Insignia

Leadership

* 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

Military units and formations disestablished in the 1990s South African Commando Units {{SouthAfrica-mil-stub