| Stellaland Commando | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active | 1899-2006 |
| Disbanded | 21 January 2006 |
| Country |  South Africa |
| Allegiance | |
| Branch | |
| Type | Infantry |
| Role | Light Infantry |
| Size | One Battalion |
| Part of | South African Infantry Corps Army Territorial Reserve |
| Garrison/HQ | Vryburg |
Stellaland Commando was alight infantryregiment of theSouth African Army. It formed part of theSouth African Army Infantry Formation as well as the South African Territorial Reserve.
Stellaland Commando can trace its origins back to the declaration of the state ofStellaland.
The Stellaland Commando was originally mobilised on 21 October 1899 to relieveKuruman from British occupation in the Anglo Boer War.
By May 1900 howeverVryburg was itself occupied by the British and the Stellaland Commando withdrew to form up with theBloemhof Commando. Stellaland then became involved in a guerilla war and this resulted in the British policy of scorched earth in the region where many homesteads in and around Vryburg bore testimony to the onslaught.
During the guerilla phase of the Anglo Boer War, four members of the commando paid the highest price:
By 1902 all Commando remnants were under British military control and disarmed.
By 1912, however previous Commando members could join shooting associations.
By 1940, such commandos were under control of the National Reserve of Volunteers.
These commandos were formally reactivated by 1948.
During the Border War in South West Africa, the Stellaland Commando combined with commandos such as Kalahari, Bloemhof, Christiana, Schweizer-Reneke and De la Ray to form an operational company that was deployed to the Owamboland region.
The unit resorted under the command of the SADF's Group 21.
This unit, along with all otherCommando units was disbanded after a decision by South African PresidentThabo Mbeki to disband all Commando Units.[1][2] The Commando system was phased out between 2003 and 2008 "because of the role it played in the apartheid era", according to theMinister of Safety and SecurityCharles Nqakula.[3]
| From | Honorary Colonels | To |
| From | Commanding Officers | To |
| 1945 | Cmdt P.D. Haasbroek | c. 1951 |
| 16 October 1972 | Cmdt R.F. de V du Plessis | c. 20 October 1981 |
| c. 2000 | Lt Col Dick Wheeler | c. 2003 |
| From | Regimental Sergeants Major | To |
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