Stellaland Commando

Stellaland Commando
Stellaland Commando
Active	1899-2006
Disbanded	21 January 2006
Country	South Africa
Allegiance	Republic of Stellaland; Zuid Afrikaanse Republic; Union of South Africa; 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
Garrison/HQ	Vryburg

Stellaland 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

Origins

Stellaland Commando can trace its origins back to the declaration of the state of Stellaland.

Operations

With the Zuid Afrikaanse Republiek

The Stellaland Commando was originally mobilised on 21 October 1899 to relieve Kuruman from British occupation in the Anglo Boer War.

By May 1900 however Vryburg was itself occupied by the British and the Stellaland Commando withdrew to form up with the Bloemhof Commando. Stellaland then became involved in a guerilla war and this resulted in the British policy of scorched earth in the region where many homesteads in and around Vryburg bore testimony to the onslaught.

During the guerilla phase of the Anglo Boer War, four members of the commando paid the highest price:

Johannes Kuhn
Hermanus Kuhn
Johannes Jansen
Hermanus Rautenbach

With the UDF

By 1902 all Commando remnants were under British military control and disarmed.

By 1912, however previous Commando members could join shooting associations.

By 1940, such commandos were under control of the National Reserve of Volunteers.

UDF era National Reserve of Volunteers shoulder tab

These commandos were formally reactivated by 1948.

With the SADF

During the Border War in South West Africa, the Stellaland Commando combined with commandos such as Kalahari, Bloemhof, Christiana, Schweizer-Reneke and De la Ray to form an operational company that was deployed to the Owamboland region.

The unit resorted under the command of the SADF's Group 21.

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.^[1]^[2] 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.^[3]

SADF era Unit Insignia

SADF era Stellaland Commando insignia

Leadership

Leadership
From	Honorary Colonels	To
From	Commanding Officers	To
1945	Cmdt P.D. Haasbroek	c. 1951
16 October 1972	Cmdt R.F. de V du Plessis	c. 20 October 1981
c. 2000	Lt Col Dick Wheeler	c. 2003
From	Regimental Sergeants Major	To

References

^ 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)
^ "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.