Graaff-Reinet Commando

{{infobox military unit

|unit_name= Graaff-Reinet Commando

|image=SADF era Graaff Reinet Commando emblem.jpg

|image_size=160px

|caption=Graaff Reinet Commando emblem

|dates= 1789-2002

|country= {{ZAF}}

|allegiance={{plainlist|

23px Batavian Republic
23px Cape Colony
23px Union of South Africa
{{flag|South Africa|1928|name=Republic of South Africa}}
{{flag|South Africa|1994|name=Republic of South Africa}}

}}

|branch={{plainlist|

{{army|South Africa|1981}}
{{army|South Africa|1994}}

}}

|type= Infantry

|role= Light Infantry

|size= One Battalion

|command_structure=South African Infantry Corps
Army Territorial Reserve

|garrison= Graaff-Reinet

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Graaff-Reinet 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=

Commandos from the Graaff Reinet area are some of the earliest examples of civil defence in South Africa, as they can be traced back to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Frontier Wars.{{Cite journal | url=http://scientiamilitaria.journals.ac.za/pub/article/view/954 | doi=10.5787/3-6-954 | title=The Volunteer Movement at Graaff Reinet (1856-1882) | year=2012 | last1=Henning | first1=C.G. | journal=Scientia Militaria: South African Journal of Military Studies | volume=3 | issue=6 | doi-access=free }}

=Operations=

==With the Cape Colony==

===[[Xhosa Wars|Second Frontier War]]===

With the threat of increased Xhosa penetration into the Zuurveld. In 1793 a large-scale war was triggered when frontiersmen join Ndlambe, a regent of the Western Xhosas, in their war against the Gunukwebe clans.

Two Government commandos under the landdrosts of Graaff-Reinet and Swellendam penetrated into Xhosa territory as far as the Buffalo River and capturing cattle, but were unable to clear the Zuurveld.{{Cite web|title=Eastern Cape Wars of Dispossession 1779-1878 {{!}} South African History Online|url=https://www.sahistory.org.za/article/eastern-cape-wars-dispossession-1779-1878|access-date=2021-11-18|website=www.sahistory.org.za}}

===The Ngqika Rebellion===

On 3 January 1878 the Burgher Act was published which enabled the government to call out burgher commandos.{{Cite web|title=Grahamstown Journal 1878 - 3 - July to September - eGGSA Newspaper Extracts|url=https://www.eggsa.org/newspapers/index.php/grahamstown-journal/1402-grahamstown-journal-1878-3-july-to-september|access-date=2021-11-18|website=www.eggsa.org}}

==With the UDF==

By 1940, rifle associations were under control of the National Reserve of Volunteers.

These rifle associations were re-designated as commandos by 1948.

File:UDF era National Reserve of Volunteers shoulder tab.jpg

==With the SADF==

During this era, the unit was mainly used for area force protection, search and cordones as well as stock theft control assistance to the rural police.

==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.{{cite web|url=http://www.issafrica.org/Pubs/ASR/6No2/VanStade.html |title=Rationalisation in the SANDF: The Next Challenge |access-date=5 March 2015 |year=1997 |author=Col L B van Stade, Senior Staff Officer Rationalisation, SANDF |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160316204323/https://issafrica.org/pubs/asr/6no2/vanstade.html |archive-date=16 March 2016 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.saps.gov.za/statistics/reports/rural_safety/eng/pages/no2e.htm |title=About the Commando system |access-date=2008-01-17 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071206150052/http://www.saps.gov.za/statistics/reports/rural_safety/eng/pages/no2e.htm |archive-date=2007-12-06 }} 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.{{cite web|last1=de Lange|first1=Deon|title=South Africa: Commandos Were 'Hostile to New SA'|url=http://allafrica.com/stories/200805290408.html|work=Cape Argus|access-date=5 March 2015|url-access=subscription }}

Unit Insignia

File:SADF era Graaf Reinet Commando insignia.jpg