Wemmerpan Commando was a

light infantry Light infantry refers to certain types of lightly equipped infantry throughout history. They have a more mobile or fluid function than other types of infantry, such as heavy infantry or line infantry. Historically, light infantry often fought ...

regiment 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

Approval was granted on 3 July 1962 for the establishment of the Wemmerpan Commando.

Operations

With the SADF

On 1 March 1963, the unit was activated under the command of Capt E.W. Meerbacher. The unit owed its name to the fact that it was situated near Wemmer Pan, an old gold mine in the southern suburbs of Johannesburg. Initially the unit used the Rosettenville Central School grounds as its parade ground. Around 1990 the unit was relocated to Doornkop Military Base, the old base was repurposed again for school use.

=Headquarters

= The first headquarters was situated in an old nursery school in Regents Park which was received from the City Council of Johannesburg. The unit resorted under the command of Group 18.

=Border Duty

= The commando performed its first border duty in 1976 (October to December), the second in 1978 (January to March). In the mid 80's the unit was refocused to Urban warefare until its closure in 1994.

=National Colours

= On Tuesday 26 April 1994, Wemmerpan Commando laid up its National Colours at the South African National Museum of Military History. The laying up of National Colours followed a decision of the Defence Command Council that this should be done owing to the replacement of the National Flag by a new National Flag on 27 April 1994. The laying up of Colours is, in the life of any unit in possession of Colours, an occasion of supreme historical significance.

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 E.W. Meerbacher 1963-1964 * Cmdt N.L. Whitaker 1964-1969 * Maj J. Schragenheim 1969-1970 * Cmdt F.R Johnstone 1970-1980 * Cmdt M.K. Wood 1980-1983 * Cmdt A.A. van Heerden 1984-1987 * Cmdt L.J. Leonard 1988- * Cmdt D.V. Steyn -1994