Eastern Province Command

In 1939, South Africa was originally divided under the Union Defence Force into 9 military districts.{{cite web|last1=Ryan|first1=David A.|title=Union Defence Forces 6 September 1939|url=http://www.ordersofbattle.darkscape.net/site/ww2/drleo/017_britain/39_south-africa/_sa_.html|website=World War II Armed Forces — Orders of Battle and Organizations|access-date=20 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129114417/http://www.ordersofbattle.darkscape.net/site/ww2/drleo/017_britain/39_south-africa/_sa_.html|archive-date=29 November 2014|url-status=dead}} At the time, the command was headquartered at East London and comprised 2nd Infantry Brigade and 5 and 6 Batteries of the Permanent Garrison Artillery.{{cite web|url=http://www.cgsc.edu/CARL/nafziger/939BIBG.pdf|title=South African Army 1939 - 1940|access-date=12 January 2014|format=pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140824033043/http://www.cgsc.edu/CARL/nafziger/939BIBG.pdf|archive-date=24 August 2014|url-status=dead}}

Under the SADF, Northern Transvaal Command was originally split into an eastern and western sector while Northern Cape had to be created from scratch. The Southern Cape Command was merged with Western Cape. The Officers commanding the new Commands were usually Brigadiers all units in those areas fell under them as far as training, housing, administration, discipline and counter insurgency was concerned.

In 1980, Eastern Province Command and 6 SAI engaged in Operation Rain, which was support to the Transkei during a regional drought that lasted until 1981.{{cite book|last1=Volker|first1=Walter|year=2010|title=Signal Units of the South African Corps of Signals and Related Signal Services|location=Pretoria|publisher=Veritas Books|ISBN=978-0-620-45345-5|page=372}} cited in {{cite book|first=Anthony|last=Turton|title=A South African Diary: Contested Identity, My Family - Our Story Part G: 1987 - 2011}}

File:SADF era Eastern Province Command insignia.jpg

In the early 1980s the command's units were reported to include 6 South African Infantry Battalion (Grahamstown), 84 Technical Stores Depot (Grahamstown); 11 Commando (Kimberley); East Cape Province Commando (Kimberley); Port Elizabeth Commando (Kimberley); and the Danie Theron Combat School (Kimberley).

Before the reintegration of the Transkei Defence Force, a number of senior Transkei officers had undergone staff courses in India. These included the head of the Transkei Defence Force, Brigadier T.T. Matanzima, who later on became head of the Eastern Province Command.Wood, Geoffrey(2000) 'South Africa's unfinished business: Organisational change and continuity within the South African national defence force', Commonwealth & Comparative Politics, 38: 2, 92.

The command was redesignated as Army Support Base Eastern Cape (ASB EC), currently commanded by Colonel N.A. Ndou.{{cite web|last1=Netshirembe|first1=Lufuno|title=Army Support Base Eastern Cape held a medal Parade|url=http://www.dod.mil.za/news/2012/04/easterncapemedalparade.htm|website=dod.mil.za|publisher=RSA Department of Defence|access-date=20 December 2014|date=11 April 2012}} The Support Base was established in April 2000, after the closing down of the Eastern Province Command.

File:SADF era Eastern Province Command Commando structure.jpg

• De Mist Commando (Uitenhage)
• Donkin Commando
• Humansdorp Commando
• Kirkwood Commando
• Port Elizabeth Commando
• Recife Commando
• Uitenhage Commando

{{cite web|last1=Engelbrecht|first1=Leon|title=New medal for ex-Commandos|url=http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7661:new-medal-for-ex-commandos&catid=111:sa-defence&Itemid=242|publisher=DefenceWeb|access-date=20 December 2014|date=26 April 2010}}

• Cradock Commando
• Katberg Commando
• Murraydeen Commando
• Somerset East Commando
• Stormberg Commando

• Cately Commando
• East London Commando

• Amatola Commando
• Graaff-Reinet Commando

• Aliwal North Commando
• Barkly East Commando
• Queenstown Commando

{{Post-start|caption=Eastern Province Command|float=}}

{{Post-header|post-name=Commanding Officers}}

{{Post-member|from-date=1968|post-incumbent=Brigadier Jack Dutton|to-date=1973}}

{{Post-member|from-date=1 January 1983|post-incumbent=Brigadier Joffel van der Westhuizen{{cite book|title=TRC Final Report|url=http://sabctrc.saha.org.za/reports/volume2/chapter5/subsection22.htm|publisher=SABC|access-date=24 December 2014|page=440|chapter=Volume 2, Chapter 5, Sub-Section 22, Paragraph 161b}}{{cite web|url=http://www.justice.gov.za/trc/decisions/2000/ac200037.htm|title=AC/2000/037|publisher=justice.gov.za}}|to-date=January 1987}}

{{Post-member|from-date=January 1987|post-incumbent=Brigadier Wessel Kritzinger|to-date=March 1990}}

{{Post-member|from-date=April 1990|post-incumbent=Brigadier Toon Slabbert|to-date= April 1996}}

{{Post-member|from-date=1996|post-incumbent=Maj Gen Themba Matanzima{{cite web|last1=Engelbrecht|first1=Leon|title=Fact file: Lt Gen Themba Matanzima|url=http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6281&catid=79&Itemid=|website=defenceweb.co.za|publisher=DefenceWeb|access-date=20 December 2014|date=25 January 2010}}|to-date=n.d.}}

{{Post-end}}

South African Army Order of Battle 1940

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{{SA Army Units}}

Category:Commands of the South African Army

Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 2000

Category:Disbanded military units and formations in Port Elizabeth

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