Piet Retief Commando

Piet Retief 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.

Piet Retief Commando
Piet Retief Commando emblem
Country	South Africa
Allegiance	Republic of South Africa  Republic of South Africa
Branch	South African Army  South African Army
Type	Infantry
Role	Light Infantry
Size	One Battalion
Part of	South African Infantry Corps Army Territorial Reserve
Garrison/HQ	Piet Retief, Mpumalanga

History

Origin

This Commando has its origins prior to the Anglo Boer War protecting the community of Piet Retief from incursions from Swaziland.

Operations

With the Zuid Afrikaanse Republiek

Defence of the ZAR border february 1900: The task of defending the eastern line became the responsibility of General Lucas Meyer, with the Vryheid, Utrecht, Swaziland, Piet Retief, Johannesburg, Krugersdorp and Middelburg commandos under his command.

With the Union Defence Force

With the SADF

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

The unit resorted under the command of Group 12.[1]

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.[2][3] 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.[4][5]

Unit Insignia

Leadership

Leadership

From	Honorary Colonel	To
From	Officer Commanding	To
c. 1900	Cmdt Engelbrecht	c.
c.	Cmdt Kohlmeyer	c.
c.	Cmdt Hinze	c.
c.	Cmdt Labushagne	c.
c.	Cmdt Pretorius	c.
c.	Cmdt Meulke	c.
c.	Cmdt Johannes	c.
c.	Maj Bruwer	c.
c.	Maj van Wyk	c.
c.	Lt Col Trebel	c.

References

1. Volker.W, Piet Retief Commando, the story of a border commando 1880-2007 published 2012
2. 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)
3. "About the Commando system". Retrieved 17 January 2008.
4. de Lange, Deon. "South Africa: Commandos Were 'Hostile to New SA'". Cape Argus. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
5. https://www.excelsiornews.co.za/2017/03/ten-years-since-closure-piet-retief-commando/

See also

• South African Commando System