Hoopstad Commando

Hoopstad 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.

Hoopstad Commando
Hoopstad Commando emblem
Country South Africa
Allegiance
Branch
TypeInfantry
RoleLight Infantry
SizeOne Battalion
Part ofSouth African Infantry Corps
Army Territorial Reserve, Group 24
Garrison/HQHoopstad

History

With the Orange Free State Republic

This commando was raised in the Anglo Boer War and was used in several opening engagements such as the Battle of Belmont in November 1899.

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.

These commandos were formally reactivated by 1948.

With the SADF

The unit was mainly used in this era for area force protection, cordones and searches as well as assisting the rural police in stock theft control.

The unit resorted under the command of Group 24.

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]

Unit Insignia
SADF era Hoopstad Commando insignia

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.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. "About the Commando system". Archived from the original on 6 December 2007. Retrieved 17 January 2008.
  3. de Lange, Deon. "South Africa: Commandos Were 'Hostile to New SA'". Cape Argus. Retrieved 5 March 2015.

See also


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