| Modderfontein Commando | |
|---|---|
 Modderfontein Industrial Commando emblem | |
| Founded | 1969 (56 years ago) (1969) |
| Disbanded | 14 February 2003 |
| Country |  South Africa |
| Allegiance | |
| Branch | |
| Type | Infantry |
| Role | Light Infantry |
| Size | One Battalion |
| Part of | South African Infantry Corps Army Territorial Reserve |
| Garrison/HQ | Modderfontein, Johannesburg |
TheModderfontein Commando was alight infantry unit of theSouth African Army. It formed part of theSouth African Army Infantry Formation as well as the South African Territorial Reserve under theCommando System.
It was phased out in 2003-2008 along with the rest of the commando system due to its role inApartheid.
The Modderfontein Commando was tasked with the protection of the Modderfontein Dynamite Factory,South Africa's biggest manufacturer of explosives.[citation needed]
In 1969, the Modderfontein Dynamite Factory was placed under the protection of the Republic Defence Force (SADF).[clarification needed]Before then, the factory was protected by a unit of the National Volunteer Battalion (NVB) that was made up of "keymen" and other volunteers. In 1946 theNVB units were retired.
The Modderfontein Commando was initially formed as an urban commando unit but was restructured in the early 1980s into an industrial commando unit tasked with protecting the complex atModderfontein. Specialized personnel allocated to the commando was largely drawn from men working forAECI who had a military commitment.[citation needed]
The Commando was structured into a headquarter with four companies.[citation needed]
This unit, along with all otherCommando units, were disbanded after a decision bySouth African PresidentThabo Mbeki.[1][2] According to theMinister of Safety and Security,Charles Nqakula,[3] the Commando system was phased out between 2003 and 2008 "because of the role it played in the apartheid era."
 | ThisSouth African military article is astub. You can help Wikipedia byexpanding it. |
