Randburg Commando

{{infobox military unit

|unit_name= Randburg Commando

|image=SADF era Randburg Commando emblem.jpg

|image_size=160px

|caption=Randburg Commando emblem

|dates=

|country= {{ZAF}}

|allegiance={{plainlist|

{{flag|South Africa|1928|name=Republic of South Africa}}
{{flag|South Africa|1994|name=Republic of South Africa}}

}}

|branch={{plainlist|

23px South African Army
{{army|South Africa|1994}}

}}

|type= Infantry

|role= Light Infantry

|size= One Battalion

|command_structure=South African Infantry Corps
Army Territorial Reserve, Group 18

|garrison= Randburg

|garrison_label=

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|motto=Unguibus et rostro (Claws and Beak)

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Randburg 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=

=Operations=

==With the SADF==

The unit resorted under the command of the SADF's Group 18.

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.

===National Colours===

On Tuesday 26 April 1994, Randburg Commando laid up its National Colours at the South African National Museum of Military History. The laying up of National Colours followed a decision of the Defence Command Council that this should be done owing to the replacement of the National Flag by a new National Flag on 27 April 1994. The laying up of Colours is, in the life of any unit in possession of Colours, an occasion of supreme historical significance.{{Cite web | url=http://samilitaryhistory.org/vol095jk.html | title=NATIONAL COLOURS LAID UP AT THE MUSEUM - South African Military History Society }}

==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=17 January 2008}} 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 Randburg Commando insignia ver 2.jpg