Benoni Commando

Benoni Commando
Benoni Commando emblem
DisbandedFebruary 14, 2003 (2003-02-14)
Country South Africa
Allegiance
Branch
TypeInfantry
RoleLight Infantry
SizeOne Battalion
Part ofSouth African Infantry Corps
Army Territorial Reserve
Garrison/HQBenoni, Gauteng

Benoni 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

Origin

Operations

Under the UDF

Rebel Commando

Members of the Benoni Commando sided with the strikers during the 1922 Miners Strike.[1][2] At 05:00 on 12 March 1922, the Union Defence Force (UDF) attacked Benoni. The objective was to defeat striking commandos at a steel factory and then move into the rest of the town.

The Government forces commenced their attack at 11:00 and immediately came under heavy fire. The attack on the steel factory was supported by artillery fire from two positions, which contributed to the striker commandos being dislodged. The attack then continued along Main Reef Road.

Commandant. P. Botha and a portion of the Standerton East Commando joined the fight at 16:00.

The attack was called off at 17:00 in order to reorganize and consolidate positions before dark. Ammunition and arms arrived later that night and was distributed.

The reinforcements consisted of the rest of the Standerton East Commando, the Blesbokspruit Commando (Standerton), the Heidelberg Commando, the Hoogveld Commando (Heidelberg), the Roodekoppe Commando (Standerton), and the Standerton West Commando.

The attack continued on 13 March. The operation went according to plan and the besieged police and Permanent Force were relieved. An instruction was subsequently issued to arrest all male residents of Benoni.[3]

Under the SADF

During this era, the unit was mainly engaged in area force protection, search and cordons as well as other assistance to the local police.

As an urban unit, this commando was also tasked with protecting strategic facilities as well as quelling township riots especially during the State of Emergency in the 1980s.

Under 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.[4][5] 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.[6]

Unit Insignia

Leadership

The unit was commanded by Cmdt Marius Hattingh from 1963 to 1974 and thereafter from approximately 1978 by Cmdt Graeme Vollmer. Regimental Sergeant Major circa 1963 to 1970 was WO1 "Kokkie" Cochrane and after him WO1 Hennie Coetzer.

Leadership
From Honorary Colonels To
From Commanding Officer To
1963 Cmdt Marius Hattingh 1974
1978 Cmdt Graeme Vollmer nd
From Regimental Sergeant Major To
1963 WO1 "Kokkie" Cochrane 1970
1970 WO1 Hennie Coetzer. nd

See also

References

  1. ^ Warwick, Rodney (15 March 2012). "White-on-white violence: The 1922 Rand Revolution - OPINION". Politicsweb.
  2. ^ Hirson, Baruch (October 1993). "The General Strike of 1922" (PDF). Searchlight South Africa. 3 (3): 63–94. Retrieved 20 October 2022 – via SAHistory.org.za.
  3. ^ Fokkens, Andries Marius (December 2006). The role and application of the Union Defence Force in the suppression of internal unrest, 1912-1945 (Masters Degree (Military History) thesis). Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University.
  4. ^ van Stade, Col L B (1997). "Rationalisation in the SANDF: The Next Challenge". Institute for Security Studies. Archived from the original on 16 March 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
  5. ^ "About the Commando system". Archived from the original on 6 December 2007. Retrieved 17 January 2008.
  6. ^ de Lange, Deon. "South Africa: Commandos Were 'Hostile to New SA'". Cape Argus. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
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