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Graaff-Reinet Commando
Graaff-Reinet Commando
	Graaff Reinet Commando emblem
Active	1789-2002
Country	South Africa
Allegiance	Batavian Republic; Cape Colony; Union of South Africa; 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	Graaff-Reinet

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.^[1]

Operations

With the Cape Colony

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.^[2]

The Ngqika Rebellion

On 3 January 1878 the Burgher Act was published which enabled the government to call out burgher commandos.^[3]

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.

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.^[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]